Executive Functioning Support

When we think of the skills necessary to be successful at school, it’s often the “hard skills,” such as literacy or numeracy, that come to mind. Executive functions are also vital to academic success and in every other aspect of life, as well. For example, executive functions are what allow a student to plan a school project, stay focused while creating it, remember to take it to school in the morning, and hand it to the teacher. Here’s a list of the seven executive functions:

·       Flexible Thinking

·       Working Memory

·       Self-Monitoring

·       Planning and Prioritizing

·       Task Initiation

·       Organization

·       Emotional Regulation

Executive function coaching is a collaborative, supportive process in which the coach and the client work together to identify the client’s goals and then develop the self-awareness, systems, and strategies necessary for the client to achieve those goals. Student and coach practice approaches to help the student compensate for areas of EF weakness, including using planners, calendars, timers, mindfulness techniques, mnemonic devices, etc. Over time, the student learns to generalize the skills to tackle new challenges, both academic and personal, with increased independence. Supportive practice really can make a difference!