How to Support Your Student’s Executive Functioning Skills

According to the Cleveland Clinic, executive function refers to skills that you use to manage everyday tasks like making plans, solving problems and adapting to new situations. Some of the main skills are working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibition control. Struggles may manifest in different ways depending on which skills are the most challenging. Luckily, there are many ways to support executive functioning needs in and out of the classroom!

Supporting executive functioning skills includes explicitly teaching and modeling the skills and strategies. Students look to the adults in their life to see how they handle situations, so one of the most important strategies is to model and discuss your own strengths and weaknesses involving executive functioning. One example of this would be to talk through your day or week - how you utilize a calendar to plan, how you decide which tasks to prioritize, and how you manage your emotions as stressful situations occur. Then begin to give your child the opportunity to make suggestions and discuss how they would handle certain situations!

When focusing on working memory, there are a few main ways to help support students. These strategies will work at home and at school.

• Decrease memory load. For example, chunking tasks into smaller sections, decreasing workload, or providing information in multiple formats. Developing routines and procedures will also assist with memory load.
•  Incorporate visuals including graphic organizers. Charts and graphics are very beneficial for supporting working memory.
• Repeat and review! Repeat information multiple times, have students repeat back, and give reminders for task completion. 

While there are many executive functioning skills, cognitive flexibility and inhibition control are two that many students need support with. You may see struggles manifest as calling out, difficulty waiting their turn, and acting impulsively. Practicing mindfulness is a great way to support students who are managing these skills. Discuss and display calming strategies, model deep breathing, and be their anchor by handling situations calmly. Create an environment that reduces sensory overload. Display useful information like charts/calendars as needed, but try to limit distractions and clutter. This will naturally assist with many executive functioning skills.

While this does not cover all executive functioning skills, implementing some of these strategies is a great start to supporting your learner!