Executive functioning skills are some of the most foundational elements for academic and social success. They are the skills that help us to plan, stay organized, pay attention to important information, use strategies to get us back on track when we veer off course, be flexible when things don't go
A number of kids struggle with executive functioning skills on a daily basis. Sometimes these struggles are obvious, like having a messy binder or forgetting to turn homework in, but other times they are more hidden. This is a critical topic because all educators have these kids in our classrooms ev
Come learn how to teach students that struggle with planning, time management and organizational challenges. This is an easy population of learners to empower with simple tricks and tools.
Think of working memory like a mental sketch pad; a place to store information for short periods of time while we're working through a task. Kids, teens, and adults use this skill on a daily basis to completely basic and complex tasks. For students, these tasks range from completing simple mental ma
Executive functioning skills are key for our students to find success in the classroom and throughout their lives. EF skills include working memory, time management, organization, task initiation, emotional control, planning/prioritizing, and sustained persistence (note: these categories vary depending on which EF resource you are reading). Executive functioning skills don’t always fall into a curriculum, … Continue reading
In many ways, strong executive functioning skills are the foundation for success. These are the mental processes that help learners plan through assignments, organize materials, initiate a task, manage time well, stay focused, try new strategies when stuck, and persevere until the completion of a go
Executive functioning skills are in everything we do. Kids and teens use them when starting homework, working with partners, juggling daily responsibilities, staying focused in class, problem-solving with friends, and much more. Executive functioning skills are life skills. While it's important t
Pathways.org provides expert resources and tools to support baby and early childhood development. Explore milestones, parenting tips, videos, and more.
Executive functioning skills can be taught to all learners. Learn about how I use visuals specifically to teach executive functioning.
Executive functioning skills play a crucial role in our everyday lives, helping us plan, organize, and complete tasks. They are essential for success in school, work, and personal life. But what exactly are executive functioning skills, and how are they developed? In this blog post, we will expl
This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click the links and make a purchase I may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. I do not recommend any companies that I do not persoanlly use and love. Please read our disclaimer for more info. What are executive function skills? Executive Functioning skills are the skills that allow us to make a goal, plan on how to meet that goal, and follow through with that plan. They are the skills that help us with impulse control, keeping ourselves organized, and regulating our emotions. Students who have difficulty with their executive function skills tend to be disorganized, impulsive, and do not follow through on plans. These difficulties are typical of students who have been diagnosed with ADHD, as well as some other learning disabilities. A student who struggles with executive function is not hopeless, these skills can be taught, practiced and developed. Break down a project into smaller pieces A student who struggles with their executive functioning skills is going to have a hard time with a large project. They are going to struggle with planning out how to complete the project over the course of a larger period of time. Planning out what to do when. You can help them by giving them an outline of what order the steps should be completed in. Also, if possible to give them miniature due dates where they should have pieces of the project completed by. Normally this is something that we do for ourselves, but we can support our students by walking them through this. Checklists Depending on the areas where the students are struggling, make them a checklist. For one of my students, I have created a checklist of everything they need to have with them when they get to class. That way, if they’re missing anything they can get it right away instead of having to leave the room multiple times to go to their locker. I also give students checklists for things like editing their work to help them remember everything they should be looking for or need to do. You can create an individualized checklist for really any need your student has. Maybe they need a checklist to help them remember the morning routine or the end of the daily routine. Agenda Checks This is something very simple. Students may struggle with remembering to write down their homework. And if they write it down, they may be in a rush and not copy it exactly. Get them in the habit of having their agenda checked by a teacher. This will help them because you can confirm that the homework in their agenda is written down correctly and completely. Since my students are older and getting ready for high school, I try to promote the responsibility being in their hands. They are expected to approach the teacher at the end of the class and ask the teacher to sign their agenda. If the students are younger, or maybe this is something that is new for them. Then, I leave the responsibility on the teachers to prompt the student to get their agenda checked until the student is ready to initiate. Create an organization system Students who struggle with executive functioning skills are likely to struggle with their organization. They are often the student who swears they did their homework, but can’t find it. Students with executive function deficits often benefit from their teachers or parents helping them to create and maintain an organized system that works for them. My go-to is the accordion folder. I usually recommend that my students get an accordion folder where they can keep all of their work, and keep it organized. I help them set up the folder and label all of the sections with them. One section in the front that is for homework, and then one section for each class. I teach them to put homework that needs to be done in the first “homework” section. Once they have completed their homework, I teach them to put the completed work into that class’s section in the folder. When they get to class the next morning they can just check that class’s section and there are all of the papers that they need! Other accommodations Provide structure and a predictable routine Allow them extra time on tests and quizzes Provide students with study guides Provide students with copies of notes Word banks when you are working with a large amount of vocabulary There are many different ways that you can support your students. These are just a few of the ones that I use the most! See also: Guiding Successful Paraprofessionals Strategies for Supporting English Language Learners The Ultimate Guide to Co-Teaching eBook! Check it Out! We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered By ConvertKit Get your free IEP summary page! Subscribe to get our latest content by email. Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription. There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. First Name Email Address We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer. Get your download! We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit
This collection of executive functioning activities for kids will help develop working memory, impulse control, problem solving, time management, organization, social, and self-control skills in a fun, non-threatening way both at home and in the classroom!
What are executive functioning skills? Executive functioning skills are the important processes in our brain that help us finish tasks and meet our goals. If it sounds like we use them for everything we do, that'd be right - we do! It's important to mention, though, that executive functioning skills
What are executive functioning skills? Executive functioning (EF) skills are the abilities in our brain that help us complete everyday tasks. These skills include planning, organization, time management, metacognition, working memory, self-control, attention, flexibility, and perseverance. Somet
What are executive functioning skills and how can I support struggling learners? These are questions that many educators and parents have, and for good reason. Executive functioning skills are the processes in our brains that help us accomplish daily tasks. They include our abilities to organize mat
Planning, organization, time management, attention, and self-control: These are just a few executive functioning skills that all kids and teens should learn. With such a focus on remote learning, I've put together a list with some digital tools and supports to help learners strengthen their executiv
It is incredibly difficult to watch your child struggle when it comes to planning, staying organized, and regulating their emotions. When we witness this struggle, as parents, we know there has to be a way to help them find not only tools, but tools that really work. It is so important to hone in on
Executive functioning skills are getting a lot of attention right now in education. Honestly, it's not even the amount of attention that they deserve, though. Executive functions are essentially the building blocks for completing all tasks in life (in school and beyond). If you think of executive
An OT describes how executive functioning skills affect learning outcomes: disorganization, attention deficits, impulse control issues...
I recently got a new counseling student that I am providing counseling for Executive Functioning skills. Executive Functioning is Executive function is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. Of course, these are necessary skills for learning and being a successful student. But, students with ADHD, in particular, struggle with […]
