The last few years, Arlington has adopted a program called Tools of the Mind. In short, to really function as a learner children need to learn more than a set of facts and skills. They need to master a set of mental skills: the tools of the mind!
Many people can cook: they can throw pasta in a pot and heat up a jar of Ragu.
But a chef! They are usually known for their great skill. People don't tune into shows like Chopped and Iron Chef to watch someone open up a cook book and read a recipe! These are skilled people who know how to put ingredients together into a delicious meal.
The Tools of the Mind program is based on Vygotsky. He felt until children learn to use mental tools, their learning is largely controlled by the teacher. But if they are able to master mental tools, they can become in charge of their own learning by attending and remembering in a purposeful way.
And when you have 5 minutes, here is a great video on Executive Functioning, featuring one of the creators of the Tools of the Mind program.
