Executive Functioning

Image taken from Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents by Dawson and Guare and No Brain Left Behind by Cox, adapted by Marydee Sklar, founder of Executive Functioning Success.

Exec functioning skills worksheet.pdf

Exec functioning teaching strategies.pdf

Enhancing-and-Practicing-Executive-Function-Skills-with-Children-from-Infancy-to-Adolescence-1.pdf

Don’t Forget the Effect of the Emotional Brain on Students' Executive FunctionsWhen we focus on executive functions as they relate to time management and getting things done, it is easy to forget the elephant in the room - our emotional brain.

Because our brains develop from the inside out and then back to front, our prefrontal cortex is the last part of the brain to develop, which is where our executive functions live. The amygdala is the security guard which is constantly asking, "Am I safe?" as it scans for threats. When a threat is perceived, the Amygdala takes over the brain and the nervous system goes into fight/flight/freeze mode (sympathetic nervous system is activated), which shuts off access to the prefrontal cortex. When we activate our parasympathetic nervous system through the vagus nerve, we can lower our heart rate which relieves the threat response, and we regain access to our prefrontal cortex.

All this to say, our executive functioning skills are highly dependent on emotional regulation. We must address stress and the nervous system FIRST in order to access these executive functioning skills in the prefrontal cortex.

Head on over to the Threat Response System page for more resources and to learn more!

Feilifan Cube Timer, Time Cube Timer Kitchen Timer Kids Timer for ADHD Productivity Workout Flip Timer Classroom for StudyTime Countdown Management Settings 15 20 30 60 Minutes-White

Wall Clock for Kids with Silent Non Ticking Sweep Quartz Mechanism

Visual Timers for "intermissions": time in between tasks to get needs met and keep child grounded (water, stretch, snack). Reminder: brains learn when they feel good. Also great for seeing progress and getting started.

Calendars for future thinking: cross off each day, visually represent project deadlines, examples, vacation times, field trips, etc.

Homework Plans, Assignment/Task Lists - crossing off a list makes our brain feel good due to the dopamine kick from the feeling of success and achievement! Drawing the time connected to each tasks shows achievable chunks.

to do all done tasks example - math.pdf

Mini Schedules within small groups/rotations can support the visualization of completing tasks within a small group routine.