Helping Students that Struggle with Executive Functioning

Posted by Erica Warren on Aug 23, 2021

Many students struggle with organization, time management and planning. In fact, capable and intelligent learners can sabotage their grades.

helping students with executive functioning

How Do Executive Functioning Weaknesses Manifest in School?

Some common ways executive functioning problems manifest in school are:

losing materials.
forgetting to turn in assignments.
leaving things to the last minute.
miscalculating or underestimating the amount of time it will take to complete a task.
failing to record homework in an agenda or planner.
leaving needed materials at school, leaving needed materials at home.
failing to prepare for tests, failing to plan and break down long-term assignments into manageable tasks or goals.
neglecting to plan for midterms or finals, missing assignments.
forgetting details.
losing focus and missing important notes or directions.
losing mental stamina and failing to complete a task.
misplacing important materials, rushing through work.

Are There Any Tools Teachers Can Use to Strengthen Executive Functioning Skills?

The publication, Planning, Time Management and Organization for Success offers methods and strategies to help structure, guide, and support students in the areas of organization, time management and planning (executive functioning skills) in all academic areas. Executive functioning is a newly defined cognitive process that has gained recognition in schools over the past decade and accommodating students that struggle in this area is often neglected. Inappropriate labels such as “careless” and “lazy” are often placed on this population. Instead of compassion and strategies, they are often intimidated, harassed and mishandled with discipline and inconsistent methods that result in poor grades. For these students anger, frustration, poor motivation and feelings of learned helplessness are common. More and more students are being described with this label and this video strives to offer them strategies for success.

This video presentation was also created to help teachers, parents and administrators understand the needs of students that struggle with Executive Functioning (attention, time management, organization, mental manipulation, and self initiation) weaknesses. A comprehensive definition is offered and many strategies are presented. It is all based on a CD book or downloadable file called Planning, Time Management and Organization for Success: Quick and Easy Approaches to Mastering Executive Functioning Skills for Students.

Here is a YouTube Video on Executive Functioning

To learn more about this and other fabulous educational resources, you can go to www.goodsensorylearning.com

Cheers, Dr. Erica Warren

Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning. She is also the director of Learning to Learn, Learning Specialist Courses, and My Memory Mentor.