2022 OABSE Midwest Conference – Executive Function: The Key to Reading Proficiency

Proficient reading is perhaps the most critical of all academic skills. But what does it mean to be a proficient reader? Proficient readers engage deeply with texts, collect and evaluate textual evidence, and attend to important text features. Such readers are also self-aware: they understand that they need to make these processes conscious and that they have active control over them.

This session brings together the work of two of today’s top education experts—Margaret Searle (executive function) and Harvey Silver (instructional tools). Participants will learn how to use executive function to help students become more self-aware and self-monitoring readers. Harvey Silver will introduce ready-to-use reading tools that combine executive function and proficient reading skills. These tools are easy to integrate into current lessons and units with whatever texts and programs teachers are already using.

In this session, participants will learn . . .

• The relationship between proficient reading and executive function.
• A set of simple and practical instructional tools that help all students develop the skills of proficient readers.
• How to select appropriate reading tools and integrate them into current lessons and units.