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NEW - DESE Paraeducator E-Learning Modules

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NEW - DESE Paraeducator E-Learning Modules

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Resource Guide from SELPA Verbal De-Escalation training, including excellent resources on setting limits and offering choices.

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Cheat Sheet and Interventions

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A brief description of the components of Executive Functioning.

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Executive Functioning

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Executive function is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. We use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage daily life. Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things.

Some people describe executive function as "the management system of the brain." That's because the skills involved let us set goals, plan, and get things done. When people struggle with executive function, it impacts them at home, in school, and in life.

There are three main areas of executive function. They are:

Executive function is responsible for many skills, including:

Paying attention

Organizing, planning, and prioritizing

Starting tasks and staying focused on them to completion

Understanding different points of view

Regulating emotions

Self-monitoring (keeping track of what you're doing)

Executive functioning skills usually develop quickly in early childhood and into the teen years. But they keep developing into the mid-20s. When kids are younger, some may lag behind peers for a while. As they get older, though, they may have fewer challenges as teens and young adults.

People struggling with executive skills may:

Avoid COVID Slide with tips and tools designed to help your child return to the classroom.

Have trouble starting and/or completing tasks

Have difficulty prioritizing tasks

Forget what they just heard or read

Have trouble following directions or a sequence of steps

Panic when rules or routines change

Have trouble switching focus from one task to another

Get overly emotional and fixate on things

Have trouble organizing their thoughts

Have trouble keeping track of their belongings

Have trouble managing their time

Trouble with executive function isn't a diagnosis or a learning disability. But it's common in people who learn and think differently. Everyone with ADHD has trouble with it. And lots of people with learning challenges struggle with executive function, too.

These difficulties can cause trouble with learning. But they don't mean that people are lazy or not intelligent. People who struggle with executive function are just as smart and work just as hard as other people.

There's been a lot of research into what causes trouble with executive function and ADHD. Here are two main factors.

Also, trouble with executive function often occurs with learning challenges.

Learning disabilities don't always involve a problem with executive function. But it's not uncommon for kids with dyslexia or dyscalculia , for example, to also have trouble with executive skills. Learn how problems with executive function can impact reading and math.

Slow processing speed isn't a problem with executive function. But it can cause trouble with it. Learn more about slow processing speed.

Testing should be done as part of a full evaluation that looks at many areas of learning and thinking. These evaluations, which schools do for free, are often done by psychologists. But there are other types of professionals who do this type of testing.

Some of these same professionals offer treatments and approaches like:

Behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Behavior therapy helps people replace negative behaviors with positive ones. CBT helps kids deal with thoughts and feelings and manage behavior.

Medications. There are no medications just for executive function, but there are medications for ADHD.

Organizational coaching. These are consultants you can hire. They're not tutors who help build academic skills. Instead, they work on building organization and time management skills. They can also work on study skills. Learn more about organizational coaches.

For educators: Learn about strategy instruction as a teaching practice that can help these students.

You can think of executive function as "the management system of the brain."

It includes skills like self-control, organization, and flexible thinking.

People with ADHD struggle with executive function.

About the Author

About the Author

The Understood Team is made up of passionate writers, editors, and community moderators. Many of them learn and think differently, or have kids who do.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Philip D. Zelazo, PhD is the Nancy M. and John E. Lindahl Professor at the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota.

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Executive function is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. We use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage daily life. Trouble with executive function can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things.

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How to support Middle School and High School students with Autism

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How to support Middle School and High School students with Autism

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Understanding Autism: A Guide for Secondary School Teachers (Part 2)

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Executive Functioning

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Webinar 1 Paraeducator Foundations Slide Deck

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Webinar 1 Paraeducator Foundations Slide Deck

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Webinar 2 Paraeducator Classroom Strategies Slide Deck

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Webinar 2 Paraeducator Classroom Strategies Slide Deck

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Back to school time can be a wonderful, exciting time for some students and a frustrating, new experience for other students. School based therapists can help students develop strategies from a sensory motor perspective to remain calm when they get angry or frustrated A new, huge collection of visual images that includes 26 calming strategies for the classroom has just been published.

You can download the Take 10 Deep Breaths calming strategy in color or black and white for FREE.

The 26 visual images for Calming Strategies for the Classroom include:

1. Take 10 deep breaths.

2. Think happy thoughts.

3. Count to 10.

4. Squeeze a stress ball.

5. Do some exercises.

6. Get a drink of water.

7. Read a book.

8. Rock gently on a ball.

9. Relax on pillows.

10. Take a walk.

11. Listen to music.

12. Do wall push ups.

13. Do yoga.

14. Play quietly.

15. Chew gum.

16. Write in journal.

17. Give yourself a hug.

18. Use the swing.

19. Spin in a circle.

20. Jump on a mini trampoline.

21. Use the scooter board.

22. Draw a picture.

23. Lay on the ball.

24. Sit on air disc.

25. Balance on a stool.

26. Go to a quiet area.

Here are some suggested uses for the Calming Strategies for the Classroom packet:

Hang up the full size pictures around the room for group instruction.

Print out the black and white versions of the calming strategies and color them in to help the students calm down and reduce stress.

Print out the small cards, laminate and put them on a key ring. When the students need to make choices to help them calm down, they can choose between the visual picture images.

Use the choice board page to help students decide which strategy to use to calm down in the classroom.

Get more details about Calming Strategies for the Classroom.

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Back to school time can be a wonderful, exciting time for some students and a frustrating, new experience for other students. School based therapists can help students develop strategies from a sensory motor perspective to remain calm when they get angry or frustrated A new, huge collection of visual images that includes 26 calming strategies [...]