HOW TO TEACH EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS TO SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS

Teaching Executive Functioning Skills to School-Age Students

So you’ve got a classroom full of kids who struggle with executive functioning skills. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. Many students have trouble with planning, organizing, and managing their time. You have the power to help your students build critical life skills that will serve them well beyond your classroom.

Over the next few months, you will become an executive functioning ninja. You’ll try out strategies, figure out what works for different students, and have some failures along the way. That’s ok. Teaching executive functioning is a journey, not a destination. Start with some basics around planning, scheduling, and organizing. Keep lessons short and fun. Provide lots of guidance and practice. Celebrate small wins to keep motivation high.

With time and consistency, you’ll start to see changes. Kids who struggle with getting started will eagerly dive into work. Students who lost everything will develop systems to keep track of materials. Kids who had meltdowns over transitions will start moving between activities with ease. Classes will run more smoothly, and your students will build skills that will benefit them for life. Are you ready to become an executive functioning mentor? The following strategies and lessons will give you everything you need to get started.

Teach Planning and Prioritizing

To help kids learn planning and prioritizing, start with simple tasks they do every day. Have them make a schedule for getting ready in the morning or after school. Walk them through each step, from waking up to leaving the house, and determine how long each task will take. Help them determine what needs to happen first, next, and last.

Let them follow the schedule themselves once they have the hang of it. Check-in to make sure they’re staying on track and staying focused. Give them reminders about how much time is left for each activity. With regular practice, they’ll get better at managing their time and figuring out priorities.

Teach them to break the work into smaller steps for bigger projects like homework. Have them estimate how long each phase might take and schedule time for breaks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Show them how to start with the high-priority tasks before moving on to lower-priority items. Help them see how planning can make the work feel more achievable.

To strengthen these skills:

1. Allow your child to make their schedules and plans.
2. Have them map out how they’ll get ready for school in the morning or plan a fun activity for the weekend.
3. Discuss how to figure out what’s most important to focus on first.
4. Let them learn from both successes and mistakes.

With your guidance and patience, kids can develop strong planning and prioritizing skills that will benefit them for years. Helping them build these skills will set them up for success in and out of the classroom.

Develop Working Memory

To strengthen your students’ working memory, try these techniques:

• Practice repetition. Have students repeat instructions, lists of words, or sequences of numbers. Start with small amounts of info and build up from there. Reciting information out loud, writing it down, and re-reading it are all effective.
• Use visual imagery. Encourage students to create mental images or mind palaces to help them remember. For example, have them visualize placing items they need to remember in a familiar location like their home. This creates connections that make info easier to recall.
• Play memory games. Games like Simon Says, Kim’s Game (where objects on a tray are removed and students recall what’s missing), and card matching games are fun ways to improve working memory.
• Teach mnemonics. Mnemonics, like acronyms, acrostics, rhymes, and songs, give students a structure to organize and remember info. For example, ‘Every Good Boy Does Fine’ to memorize the notes on the lines of the treble clef.
• Provide checklists and reminders. Give students written lists, schedules, routines, and reminders to help them keep track of tasks and responsibilities. Refer to these tools often, especially when first implementing them.
• Start with focus. Help students strengthen their focus and attention to absorb and retain more info. Short-focused meditation or visualization exercises can help. Minimize distractions when learning new skills or topics.

With regular practice of these techniques, your students will boost their working memories and build a skill that will benefit them for life. Patience and persistence pay off!

Practice Task Initiation and Completion

➡ Break Down Large Tasks

For students struggling with task initiation and completion, start by breaking down large, overwhelming tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. Have them write down each step required to complete the job, then schedule a time to work through each step. This makes the task seem less daunting and more achievable.

➡ Use Visual Reminders

Visual reminders are very helpful for task initiation and follow-through. Have students create a schedule or timeline to keep track of tasks, deadlines, and steps required. Review the program together regularly. You can also have them set alarms and timers on their phones to prompt them to start and finish tasks.

➡ Offer Encouragement and Accountability

Students often need motivation and accountability to get started on less preferred tasks. Offer encouragement, check-ins, and praise for their efforts and progress. Provide rewards and positive reinforcement to keep them motivated. You can also have students report back on their progress to provide accountability. Let them know you believe in their ability to complete the task but will follow up to ensure they stay on track.

➡ Make Tasks Engaging

Try to make tasks more engaging and rewarding. Turn tasks into games or challenges to increase motivation and interest. Offer choices in how they complete the task. Play music while working to improve focus and mood. Take short breaks when needed to recharge and renew motivation. The more engaging and rewarding you can make task initiation and completion, the more likely students are to follow through.

With practice and consistency, task initiation and completion can become second nature. But it often requires patience, motivation, and strategies to help students build this important executive functioning skill. Keep providing guidance and encouragement, even for small wins, and students will gain confidence and independence over time.

Conclusion

So there you have some practical tips and strategies for helping develop executive functioning skills in your students. Remember, these skills are crucial for success in school and life but they take time and practice. Start small by focusing on one area at a time, provide lots of encouragement and positive reinforcement, and make it fun. Before you know it, your students will start showing improvements in their organization, time management, emotional regulation, and more. Keep at it and stay patient through challenges. With your support, your students will build these lifelong skills and thrive. If you want to learn more, head over to an article Harvard made about Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence.

Check Our Our Other Blogs:

• A Beginner’s Guide To Executive Functioning Disorder
• Helping Students With Their Executive Functioning At Home
• Signs and Symptoms of Executive Function Disorder