Did you know that it takes the average person’s brain approximately 25 years to reach maturation? While brain development varies, experts agree that the behaviors and experiences people undergo until age 25 result in solidifying executive function skills.油
Essentially, executive function skills (EFS) are our built-in capacity to meet challenges and accomplish goals, according to Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents (, 2018). These skills help us manage our thinking and behavior so that we can focus on what’s importantallowing us to reduce or eliminate distractions that could hinder us from attaining our short- or long-term goals.油
Practically speaking, executive function skills can be classified as thinking or doing.油
Thinking includes working, memory, planning or prioritization, organization, time management, and metacognition skills.油
Doing includes response inhibition, emotional control, sustained attention, task initiation, goal direction and persistence skills. Together, these skills assist us in attaining our long-term goals, such as a higher GPA, good study habits, an advanced degree and financial independence. Think about all the obstacles you have had to overcome to reach any measure of success at a personal, educational or professional level. The ability to reach long-term goals is a demonstration of executive function skills at work.油
So why is this important to you? Well, as an educator, you play a significant role in supporting students’ EFS. You have the opportunity to shape their EFS in and outside the classroom.油
Here’s how to provide support and structure to students as they develop. Students experiencing weaknesses in EFS will show signs at the behavioral and academic levels.油
檎艶温糸:油What technology can tell us about students’ cognitive skills, and why that matters
At the behavioral level, look for students who:油
- act without thinking油
- interrupt others油
- overreact to small problems油
- are upset by changes in plans油
- are overwhelmed by large assignments油
- talks or play too loudly油
- resist changes to their routines油
- don’t notice the impact of their behavior on others油
- don’t see their behavior as part of the issue油
- can’t come up with more than one way to solve a problem油
- are easily overstimulated and have trouble calming down油
- gets stuck on one topic or activity油
At the academic level, look for students who:油
- don’t bother to write down assignments油
- forget directions油
- forget to bring materials home油
- keep putting off homework油
- run out of steam before finishing homework油
- choose fun stuff over homework or chores油
- have passive study methods (or don’t study)油
- forget their homework or forget to turn in homework油
- leave long-term assignments or chores until the last minute油
- have sloppy work油
- have messy notebooks油
- lose or misplace things油
Of course, these lists of signs are not comprehensive. They are meant to provide a brief overview of what to look for in students struggling with EFS.油
What can you do to help?油
At the academic level:油
- make the task shorter油
- make the steps more explicit油
- make tasks more closed ended油
- build in a variety or choice油
- build in breaks油
- have students set goals油
- develop a reward system with students油
- establish classroom routines油
- work collaboratively with parents, teachers and students油
Use behavior modification:油
- describe the problem behavior油
- set a goal油
- establish a procedure or set of steps to reach the goal油
- supervise the student following the procedure油
- evaluate the process and make changes, as needed油
- fade the supervision油
- monitor performance油
- problem solve油
- provide feedback油
Use an incentive system:油
- describe the problem behavior and set a goal油
- decide on possible rewards and contingencies油
- write a behavior contract油
- evaluate the process and make changes, as needed油
Please note that these recommendations can be adapted to accommodate both individuals and groups of students in the classroom.油
As an educator, you have a huge opportunity to positively influence the future success of students as you support their EFS growth and development.油
Nikosi Darnell is a speech-language pathologist and child development specialist with ClearView Speech & Consulting Services. Darnell is a featured speaker for the 2020 Future of Education Technology Conference速, and she will address executive functioning.
