Best of The Authority: Executive Functions for Every Classroom with Mitch Weathers

For our next "Best Of" episode, I'm excited to republish my conversation with Mitch Weathers, teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. We talked about his book Executive Functions for Every Classroom: Creating Safe and Predictable Learning Environments Grades 3-12, published by Corwin. 

Hear our conversation about:

• Defining executive functions and their importance
• Signs of executive dysfunction
• Justin Baeder, The Principal Center, says the book “makes the case for universal classroom routines that free up students' mental bandwidth to focus on learning.”
• Practical steps to create predictable learning environments — and why you should do it
• Patrice Bain writes that this statement stopped her in her tracks: “As teachers, if we are aware that our students are partially organized, and we do nothing about it, then we are complicit in their failure.”
• Goal-setting and accountability
• Getting families involved

Find Executive Functions for Every Classroom from Corwin or at http://organizedbinder.com/book 

Listen to previous episodes of The Authority referenced in this conversation:

• Mapping Professional Practice with Justin Baeder and Heather Bell-Williams: https://bit.ly/3TaQsUN 
• A Parent’s Guide to Powerful Teaching with Patrice Bain: https://bit.ly/47RKeOf 

About today’s guest

Mitch Weathers is a teacher and founder of Organized Binder, Inc. Together with the Organized Binder team, Mitch works with K-12 schools and colleges in the US and internationally to equip students with executive functioning skills. When he is not working with schools, you can find him running trails training for his next ultramarathon. He and his wife, Amber, live in Northern California with their two daughters, Vivienne and Olive. Connect with Mitch @organizedbinder

About the host

Ross Romano is a co-founder of the Be Podcast Network and CEO of September Strategies, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations and high-performing leaders in the K-12 education industry communicate their vision and make strategic decisions that lead to long-term success. Connect on LinkedIn or Bluesky. 

I also host Sideline Sessions, a podcast for coaches and parents of student-athletes. The show features conversations with coaches and performance experts in the NFL, NBA, NCAA, Olympics, and more. Listen here: https://bit.ly/3Rp0QGt