Executive functioning skills may sound like a buzz word, but really, it’s not. I’m glad they’re getting the hype they deserve! Executive functioning skills are a set of mental processes that help us plan, focus, and stay organized. These skills are important for students to develop as they allow them to successfully complete tasks, make good decisions, and solve problems. As a teacher, you play a vital role in helping your students develop their executive functioning skills. Here are 5 simple yet powerful tips to help you along the way:
1.) Model good executive functioning skills
As a teacher, you are a role model for your students. Many kids, neurodivergent students and neurotypical students, learn by watching. By demonstrating solid planning, focus, and organization skills yourself, you can help your students develop these skills as well. Pro tip: narrate aloud what you’re doing. “I’m putting this marker back in the container so I know where to find it next time.”
2.) Break tasks into smaller steps
Complex tasks can be overwhelming for students. By breaking them down into smaller steps, you can help your students stay organized and focused on completing the task at hand. You can model this by showing students the bigger, overall plan, and break it down using a graphic organizer or just bullet points. Once students watch you model this a few times, you can have them support you in the process. This gives students tangible learning opportunities to use this independently in the future.
3.) Encourage the use of planners and to-do lists
Planners and to-do lists are great tools for helping students stay organized and on track. Encourage your students to use these tools to plan out their work and track their progress.
4.) Help students set goals
Setting goals can be a powerful way to motivate students and help them stay focused on what they need to do. If you have students with IEPs, goals naturally are embedded into their daily school experience. You can use this to seamlessly encourage goal setting and monitoring of goals! Encourage your students to set goals for themselves and provide support and guidance as needed. I love using this interactive notebook to initially teach proper and manageable goal setting, and to reinforce goals over time.
5.) Provide structure
A structured environment can help students stay focused and on track. Consider using a consistent daily routine, providing clear expectations and rules, and creating a clutter-free classroom to help students stay organized and focused. With too much visual stimulation, students simply can’t visually attend to what is needed.
Bonus tip: Involve families in the process
Demystify executive functioning skills for families! This term often sounds more lofty and complicated than it actually is. Educating families on what EF skills are and are not, and how to support them at home, will make this process of building the skill set way smoother. Use these ready-made, print and go parent education letters for smooth communication.
By incorporating these strategies into your teaching, you can help your students develop strong executive functioning skills that will serve them well in school and beyond. Any tips you’re itching to try? Comment below and tell us!
While you’re at it, check out this bundle full of executive functioning supports. It’s all done for you!
Looking for more posts on executive functioning skills? Check these out:
The Secret to Teaching Executive Functioning Skills
How to Organize Your Special Education Classroom