What is Executive Functioning?
Executive Functioning refers to a set of cognitive processes that enable individuals to manage and regulate their thoughts, emotions, and actions. These processes include planning, organizing, time management, working memory, and self-regulation. When our executive functions are well-developed, we can set goals, make informed decisions, and adapt to various situations effectively.
Supporting Executive Functioning Skills
The way we support executive functioning skills for our learners with IEPs is crucial for helping them succeed academically and in life. Often these learners face challenges related to organization, time management, impulse control, and more. Below are some strategies and approaches that can be used to help learners develop and strengthen their executive functioning skills.
- Initiating: Increase the structure of tasks. Break assignments into smaller steps. Establish and rely on routines.
- Sustaining: Rely on high-interest tasks and give learners a choice among topics of interest to increase their investment. Keep instructions clear and repeat as needed, allow breaks, and use variety.
- Inhibiting: Work on strategies to help resist distractions and manage impulsive behaviors. Some examples include deep breathing, counting to ten, and using self-monitoring tools.
- Shifting: Increase routine in the day by making the schedule clear and in view and discuss changes to the schedule as soon as possible.
- Organizing: Begin with tasks that have only a few steps and increase gradually. Create a system of routine and use visual cues to help navigate daily schedules. Use tools like binders, folders, and color-coded labels.
- Planning: Verbalize a plan before beginning a task. Set achievable goals and create short-term objectives along with an action plan to reach those objectives.
- Self-Monitoring: Reflect on your actions and allow for self-critiquing and peer-critiquing of work. Create checklists to monitor the completion and progress of tasks.
- Working Memory: Chunk information into units of 3-4 items. Practice active reading and play games that require visual memory, like cards.