Helping Students Take Control of Everyday Executive Functions: A Comprehensive Guide

Executive functions are a set of cognitive skills that help us plan, organize, and control our behavior. They are essential for everyday life, from managing our time and resources to making decisions and solving problems.

For students, executive functions are especially important. They help students stay on track with their schoolwork, complete assignments on time, and manage their time effectively. Students with strong executive functions are also more likely to be successful in school and beyond.

However, many students struggle with executive functions. They may have difficulty planning ahead, organizing their materials, or controlling their impulses. This can make it difficult for them to succeed in school and in life.

Helping Students Take Control of Everyday Executive Functions: The Attention Fix

by Richard Panek

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	380 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	210 pages

FREE

Fortunately, there are many things that can be done to help students improve their executive functions. With the right strategies and support, students can learn to take control of their behavior and achieve their goals.

Executive functions are a set of cognitive skills that help us:

• Plan and organize our thoughts and actions
• Make decisions
• Solve problems
• Control our impulses
• Manage our time and resources
• Set and achieve goals
• Metacognition (the ability to think about our own thinking)

Executive functions are essential for everyday life. They help us to:

• Manage our time and resources
• Complete tasks on time
• Make decisions
• Solve problems
• Control our impulses
• Manage our emotions
• Stay on track with our goals

Executive functions are essential for students because they help them to:

• Stay on track with their schoolwork
• Complete assignments on time
• Manage their time effectively
• Study for tests
• Take notes
• Organize their materials
• Control their impulses
• Make good decisions
• Solve problems

Students with strong executive functions are more likely to be successful in school and beyond. They are more likely to:

• Graduate from high school and college
• Get good jobs
• Have healthy relationships
• Make responsible decisions

There are many signs that a student may be struggling with executive functions. These can include:

• Difficulty planning ahead
• Difficulty organizing materials
• Difficulty controlling impulses
• Difficulty managing time
• Difficulty completing tasks on time
• Difficulty making decisions
• Difficulty solving problems
• Difficulty staying on track with goals

If you are concerned that a student may be struggling with executive functions, it is important to talk to them about it. You can also talk to their teacher or school counselor.

There are many things that can be done to help students improve their executive functions. Some of the most effective strategies include:

• Teaching students about executive functions. Help students understand what executive functions are and how they can help them succeed in school and in life.
• Providing opportunities for students to practice executive functions. Give students opportunities to plan, organize, and control their behavior in different settings.
• Giving students feedback on their executive function skills. Let students know how they are ng and offer suggestions for improvement.
• Helping students set goals and develop strategies to achieve them. Help students break down large goals into smaller, more manageable steps.
• Encouraging students to use self-regulation strategies. Teach students how to use self-regulation strategies, such as self-monitoring, self-talk, and self-reinforcement.
• Providing students with support and encouragement. Let students know that you believe in them and that you are there to support them.

There are many resources available to help students improve their executive functions. Some of the most helpful resources include:

• Websites:
  • National Center for Learning Disabilities: https://www.ncld.org/
  • Understood.org: https://www.understood.org/
  • The Learning Disabilities Association of America: https://www.ldaamerica.org/
• Books:
  • "Executive Functions in Children: Assessment and Intervention" by George McCloskey, Patricia K. Paxton, and Phyllis Ann Schumaker
  • "Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential" by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
  • "The Executive Function Workbook for Students: Strategies for Success in School and Life" by Lisa E. Weyandt
• Workbooks:
  • "The Executive Function Workbook for Kids" by Stephanie Tolan
  • "The Executive Function Workbook for Teens" by Stephanie Tolan
• Apps:
  • My Executive Function Toolkit: https://www.myexecutivefunctiontoolkit.com/
  • CogniFit: https://www.cognifit.com/
  • BrainHQ: https://www.brainhq.com/

Executive functions are essential for success in school and in life. By teaching students about executive functions, providing them with opportunities to practice these skills, and giving them feedback and support, we can help them take control of their behavior and achieve their goals.

Helping Students Take Control of Everyday Executive Functions: The Attention Fix

by Richard Panek

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	380 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	210 pages

FREE