Executive Functioning

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING

We’ve all heard of it. Many students have deficits in it. But what exactly is Executive Functioning, and how does it affect your child’s ability to learn?

Executive Functioning issues are weaknesses in a crucial set of mental skills. These weaknesses often manifest in students with learning difficulties and attentional issues. Executive Functioning is the “boss” part of your brain – the manager that helps plan, organize, and complete tasks. 

If your child has Executive Functioning issues, any task can be a challenge – from putting clothes in a hamper to completing homework. Some difficulties people with Executive Functioning issues have include: 

  1. Estimating how long something will take, or keeping track of time

  2. Making plans

  3. Using information learned previously to solve new problems

  4. Planning tasks

  5. Organizing materials

  6. Initiating work

  7. Shifting to new tasks

Executive Functioning really consists of eight areas. One of the first steps to helping students with Executive Functioning Issues is to identify which is/are the area(s) of weakness.

  1. Working Memory – The ability to recall material or information for immediate use.

  2. Organizing Materials – The capability to organize objects.

  3. Planning Tasks – The skill of dealing with tasks by breaking them into manageable parts/developing steps to achieve goals.

  4. Emotional Control– The ability to regulate emotional responses to stress.

  5. Initiating Work – The capability to be a self-starter; to start tasks without much assistance or guidance.

  6. Inhibiting Behavior – The ability to stop one’s own behavior when necessary.

  7. Monitoring – The capability to judge one’s work based on expected standards.

  8. Shifting to New Tasks – The skill to be able to shift from one activity to another.

In students with Executive Functioning issues, it is so important for them to learn their areas of strengths and struggles. Once we “take inventory” of these areas, there are a myriad of strategies they can use to help them succeed in academic areas that were difficult for them.

At Creative Learning Studio, we provide the external structure students need, and help them develop tools to be successful, independent learners.

stefanie greenberg