Students with learning challenges, especially those with executive function difficulties, often struggle with organization and time management. These executive functioning skills are controlled by the part of the brain known as the frontal lobe, which is not fully mature until a person reaches around 25 years of age, and even later for people with ADHD and other learning differences. For this reason, skills like focusing, getting started on assignments, and staying organized don’t always come easily, as they must be developed and refined over time. When it comes to school, students commonly fo ..read more

Tom, a tenth-grade student, approaches the end of August with a renewed focus on doing well in school. The beginning of the year offers a fresh start and the chance to work toward a strong GPA for college applications in two years. Jean, a sixth-grade student, enters middle school, excited to attend a new school and excel in all her classes. However, by the end of September, Tom was late with three assignments and did poorly on his first Science test. Jean, a star student in elementary school, was challenged with managing six different classes and six different teachers. She lost assignments a ..read more

Many parents question how they can help their child with homework assignments to support academic success without encouraging a dependency on such support. This concern often becomes pronounced as students transition into middle school or high school. Parents can procure this balance by considering executive functioning skills development and the role these skills play when students complete homework assignments. The Difference Between Academic Knowledge and Executive Functioning Skills Whereas academic knowledge allows a child to add two numbers to determine the correct sum, executive functio ..read more

Executive functioning skills often challenge students, making it difficult to complete assignments on time and according to directions. Such executive function skills refer to functions in the prefrontal cortex of the brain that are required to complete a task. Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or dyslexia often exhibit comorbid challenges with executive function skills. While such challenges persist, implementing strategies can support students’ learning and productivity. Challenges with two essential components of executive functioning skills, organization and int ..read more

Executive functions are the operations in the brain responsible for the execution of skills and behaviors utilized to complete desired tasks. Challenges with executive function affect children in a variety of ways and sometimes appear similar to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), partly because ADHD is a developmental problem with executive functioning skills. Children who struggle with executive function might have difficulty prioritizing or completing tasks, following step-by-step instructions, switching from one task to the next, and organizing their time or belongings. With t ..read more

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned” – Benjamin Franklin, activist, author, humorist, and scientist Executive functioning skills facilitate the behaviors required to plan and achieve goals. The fundamental skills related to executive function include proficiency in adaptable thinking, planning, self-monitoring, self-control, working memory, time management, and organization. These competencies are essential to a child’s growth and learning ability, and though development begins in early childhood, these skills continue to progress well into adulthood. Struggling with many ..read more