George McCloskey, PhD Executive Functions
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Curriculum · Grades 2 to 8

The SILAS/McCloskey Executive Function Toolkit

The SILAS/McCloskey EF Curriculum targets the most critical EFs for academic success in grades 2-8, with lessons designed for general and special education classroom use at all MTSS levels.

The nine lessonsContact for more information

Nine lessons

Nine lessons, each for a specific skill or set of skills.

  • Focus and Sustain Attention

  • Initiate, Stop, and Shift

  • Monitor and Correct

  • Be Flexible

  • Inhibit and Anticipate

  • Organize

  • Track Time, Estimate Time, and Pace

  • Plan, Prioritize, and Set Goals

  • Manage Memory

High-interest activities

Each lesson is based on neuroscience research and evidence-based educational practices and contains high-interest activities designed to engage students:

  • Animated or live-action videos
  • Games
  • Scenarios
  • Guided discussions and collaborative problem-solving
  • Drawing and writing
  • Self-assessments and self-reflection
  • Using the SILAS Create feature to create their own animated video

Lesson components

Each lesson includes the following components for the delivery of instruction:

  • Student goals and objectives for each EF
  • Pre/Post Assessment of student EF skills (Teacher Rating Scale)
  • Background information for each EF skill and suggestions for creating connections throughout the day
  • Step-by-step directions for each activity
  • Posters
  • Home Extension: information to share with parents and caregivers

Multi-practitioner usage

  • General Education Teachers
  • Special Education Teachers
  • Guidance Counselors
  • Psychologists
  • Social Workers
  • Speech/Language Therapists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Executive Function Coaches
  • ADHD Coaches

Opportunities for instruction

  • Dedicated class time
  • Tutoring and support sessions
  • Study halls
  • Counseling groups
  • Advisory periods
  • After school programs
  • Study skills programs

Flexible lesson modules

  • Choose lessons based on student needs
  • Choose the order of presentation of lessons
  • Choose the level most appropriate for your students

The approach

Foundational skills, explicit training, common language, increased awareness.

Foundational Skills

EF skills are foundational skills that significantly impact academic achievement. Knowing when, where, and how to use EF skills is vital for success in all areas of life.

Explicit Training

Research supports explicitly teaching EF skills to all students, particularly when integrated into daily classroom activities. When EF skills are taught, students learn about and can select the strategies that work best for them.

Common Language

Incorporating executive function terminology into the classroom clarifies expectations, enhances communication, and reduces misunderstandings.

Increased Awareness

When students are aware of their EF strengths and challenges, they can see how these affect goals and plans for the future. This awareness can motivate students to learn how to improve their EF skills.

The curriculum authors

George McCloskey, Ph.D., and Laurie McCloskey have partnered with SILAS to create the most accessible, comprehensive EF curriculum available.

Dr. George McCloskey is an internationally recognized expert on executive functions, having researched the topic and worked with individuals with EF difficulties for over 35 years. He has developed a comprehensive model of executive functions that incorporates multiple facets of executive control, including self-regulation, self-awareness, and self-determination. He has authored two books on assessment and intervention for executive function difficulties and the McCloskey Executive Function Scales. Dr. McCloskey's model of EFs and his expertise in working with clients were used to provide the framework for this curriculum and guide content development.

Laurie McCloskey is a classroom teacher certified in the areas of special and general education who has extensively researched the topic of executive functions in educational settings. She applied her years of teaching experience and expertise in curriculum development, along with her knowledge of executive functions, to produce the content of the curriculum.

Laurie and George McCloskey co-authored the children's book The Day Frankie Left His Frontal Lobes at Home.

For more information, contact gmccloskz@gmail.com.