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Executive function skills are the higher level cognitive skills that are required for every day tasks. These skills begin to develop in toddlerhood and aren’t fully developed until a person is in their 20s!
For students in the classroom, executive function skills are required for everything from social interactions, to navigating between classes, to turning homework in on time.
In today’s episode, we’re giving you a breakdown on the importance of executive function skill development, how to teach these skills, and 5 tools and strategies to incorporate into the classroom to help students develop and improve their executive function skills.
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Executive Function Skills and More
7 Executive Function Strategies
In today’s fast-paced learning environments, executive functioning is crucial to a student’s academic success and social development. These core skills—managing time, organizing tasks, controlling impulses, and regulating behavior—are essential for navigating school and daily life.
Executive functioning challenges can be particularly daunting for students with ADHD, sensory processing disorders, or other neurodivergent conditions. Fortunately, the right strategies can develop and strengthen these skills.
Visual aids are powerful tools for students who struggle with executive functioning. By providing a clear, tangible way to organize tasks and expectations, visuals help students, especially those with ADHD or sensory challenges, stay focused and manage their time.
Display daily routines and schedules in a visible spot, broken down into smaller, manageable tasks that students can follow step by step.
Offer checklists for academic assignments and daily routines. Allow students to physically check off tasks as they complete them, creating a sense of accomplishment and teaching prioritization.
Provide visual guides for desk or backpack organization, showing students what a clean and orderly workspace should look like. For many students, visually organizing tasks can alleviate the mental clutter and stress of juggling too many things at once.
Children naturally learn through play, and incorporating movement into classroom activities can be highly effective, especially for students with executive functioning difficulties. Engaging students in interactive, physical activities boosts learning while keeping them focused and motivated.
Turn lessons into games. For example, use word relay races or timed math challenges to make learning fun and active.
Incorporate short breaks that include physical activity, such as stretches, jumping jacks, or a quick game. These breaks help students reset and regain focus, especially after mentally demanding tasks.
Emotional regulation and self-awareness are critical components of executive functioning. Social-emotional learning (SEL) programs and mindfulness exercises help students become more attuned to their emotions, fostering greater impulse control and emotional regulation.
Introduce programs like *Zones of Regulation* or the *Just Right Curriculum* to help students recognize and understand their emotions. These programs also offer tools for self-regulation.
Encourage students to engage in mindfulness exercises such as deep breathing, meditation, or guided imagery. These techniques help students manage their reactions to challenging situations and improve focus.
Routine activities can sometimes cause disengagement, especially for students who struggle with executive functioning. Introducing novelty into the learning environment can break up the monotony and capture students' attention.
Replace traditional lectures with interactive activities. Use tools like whiteboards, technology, or group games to promote engagement.
Encourage students to move while they learn by practicing spelling through a relay race or solving math problems in a game format. Incorporating variety into lessons can improve working memory and attention, making it easier for students to grasp and retain new information.
Exercise profoundly affects brain function, especially for students who need help with focus and behavior regulation. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) or quick physical exercises can boost dopamine, helping students concentrate and focus.
Implement short bursts of physical activity, such as jumping jacks, running in place, or doing a quick lap around the playground. These activities are quick but provide a powerful reset for students.
Incorporate movement between lessons by having students stand up, stretch, or do a few rounds of burpees. This keeps energy levels high and brains engaged.
Research consistently shows that physical activity improves attention, memory, and overall brain health, making it an ideal strategy for students with executive functioning challenges.
Helping students develop their executive functioning skills is more than a one-size-fits-all process. It requires empathy, understanding, and consistent practice.
By incorporating visual aids, playful engagement, mindfulness, novel learning activities, and physical exercise into their daily routine, you can create an environment where students with executive functioning challenges can thrive. Each student’s journey is unique, and supporting them with the right tools today will help set them up for a lifetime of success.
BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties and what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.
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