It seems that executive functioning has become quite the buzz word lately, but at its core, executive functioning is vital for success both in and out of the classroom. Before we can discuss literacy success, we need to be talking about the executive function system.
Often, I hear parents tell me they never heard of this term until their child’s school mentioned it as an area of concern for which they needed support. When I first meet with these parents, this is the “executive functioning in a nutshell” overview I often provide:
Our executive function system is the air traffic control system in the prefrontal cortex of our brains that helps us to successfully navigate our everyday lives. Imagine an airport where flights are arriving and departing. It is critical for an air traffic control system to efficiently keep up with the hustle and bustle to avoid accidents and to help operations run smoothly. Executive function skills are vital for working toward academic success, building and maintaining personal relationships, and managing everyday tasks and responsibilities.
These are the executive function skills I focus on:
PERCEPTION & ATTENTION: Knowing what to attend to and how. There are four types of attention: sustained, selective, alternating, and divided.
COGNITIVE FLEXIBILITY: Adapting to an unexpected change; also considering different perspectives in decision-making and interpreting information.
WORKING MEMORY: How we process and use information. It allows us to hold on to information while working with it. It is the mental sticky note.
ORGANIZATION: Systems that are developed to keep track of belongings, assignments, and information.
METACOGNITION: Thinking about one’s own thinking; recognizing what is unfamiliar or confusing.
TIME MANAGEMENT: Gauging the length of time a task will take, and then using that time efficiently.
PLANNING: Thinking about and anticipating the future; prioritizing an order in which to complete tasks.
TASK INITIATION: Efficiently getting started on a task. It is the opposite of procrastination.
PERSEVERANCE: Using strategies to work through challenges and frustrations to complete a task.
INHIBITION & SELF-REGULATION: Optimally managing and regulating thoughts, emotions, actions, and words.
SELF-MONITORING & SELF-EVALUATION: Checking in with ourselves to reflect on our thoughts and behaviors while making necessary changes.
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