What Are Executive Functioning Skills for Students and How Can It Improve My Child’s Education?

As many as one in five children have a learning disability in America. A learning disability can hinder your child’s progress and create a frustrating school experience. Parents often don’t realize that executive dysfunction is often the culprit behind tough times at school.

But what are executive functioning skills for students? And how can you help your child improve theirs? Let’s take an in-depth look at executive functioning (EF) skills in the school setting.

Executive Functioning Skills Explained

We use executive functioning skills every single day. They’re a set of management skills that allow us to plan, organize, and execute tasks. They encompass a wide variety of abilities, including focus and emotional regulation.

The three main areas of executive functioning skills are:

• Working memory
• Cognitive flexibility
• Inhibitory control

People aren’t born with this set of skills, but most of us develop them throughout childhood. Executive functioning skills continue to improve in adolescence and even into our 20s. But some people struggle with the development of these skills.

Executive dysfunction can impact every aspect of an individual’s life. We often underestimate the importance of EF skills in relationships, work, and home. But one area where executive dysfunction makes a clear difference is in the classroom.

What Are Executive Functioning Skills for Students?

A student’s level of executive functioning has a significant impact on their academic performance. The typical school day is full of tasks that require EF skills, from reading to math to tests. If your child struggles with this skill set, their performance and motivation for learning can decline.

Working Memory

A high-functioning working memory is critical in our society’s approach to academics. It describes the ability to store information and relay it in the future. This method is the basis of all standardized testing in the school system.

The most common and basic example would be a student in a science class. They attend the class and read the material, listen to the lecture, and retain the information. A week later, they have to complete a multiple-choice quiz based on this information.

Now imagine a student who has a poorly functioning working memory. They likely won’t be able to recall some or most of the information after the lesson. They may even forget to study for the quiz!

This issue doesn’t mean that the student isn’t intelligent or capable of learning new information. It just means that their working memory needs a bit of help. Academic coaches often work with students to develop coping mechanisms for this problem.

Cognitive Flexibility

As we get older, we learn to expand our thinking patterns and see things in more than one way. This skill is known as cognitive flexibility or flexible thinking. Flexible thinking is vital in the learning environment for understanding processes and relationships.

We can imagine a student in a math classroom learning simple equations. They might understand these equations but struggle to put them into practice. Often, students with cognitive inflexibility can’t see the relationships between concepts and practical applications.

They tend to view things in black and white or as one-sided. In English class, these students might struggle with the concept of metaphors and similes. Analyzing books and applying learned information to their life can be a stressful process.

Inhibitory Control

We know that children are often filled with boundless energy and curiosity. But as they get older, they usually learn how to control their actions and emotions. This skill is known as inhibitory control or self-control.

Children with high inhibitory control can:

• Avoid distractions
• Resist temptations
• Refrain from impulsive behavior
• Control their emotions

These self-regulation skills are vital in the classroom. It can help students pay attention to lessons, focus on tasks, and avoid yelling out answers. Inhibitory control also helps in social situations, like recess time and competitions.

Studies regarding inhibitory control show that it’s a critical skill for academic success. But the findings also show that it’s imperative for overall life satisfaction. This 32-year-long study followed 1,000 children to see how inhibitory control affected them.

It found that children who showed a high level of inhibitory control between the ages of 3 and 11 had:

• Better physical and mental health
• More successful careers
• Fewer risks of criminal activity
• Generally happier adulthood

This study demonstrates the importance of early interventions. The goal should be to help children strengthen their executive functioning skills before adolescence. It can mean the difference between a frustrating and a fulfilling adult life.

Signs of Executive Dysfunction

Children who struggle with EF skills can fall into a trap of thinking they’re not smart enough. They might label themselves as lazy and lose the motivation to try. Students might seem bored on the surface but feel frustrated and angry at themselves inside.

Spotting the signs of executive dysfunction in your child is vital. Students might struggle with organizational skills like:

• Finishing assignments on time
• Using self-study time wisely
• Keeping track of school supplies
• Maintaining a tidy desk or locker
• Organizing their thoughts when writing essays

Time management is another common issue. Students might have difficulties with:

• Arriving on time
• Finishing tests in the allotted timeframe
• Switching between tasks
• Submitting homework and projects on time
• Prioritizing tasks
• Avoiding procrastination

Their general academic performance might decline because they have trouble:

• Memorizing information
• Processing important information
• Solving multi-step problems
• Following directions
• Adapting to changes in routine

Students with executive dysfunction often struggle to maintain friendships. Social settings can pose a challenge when students have difficulty:

• Managing their emotions
• Controlling impulsive behavior
• Paying attention when someone speaks
• Remembering information (game rules, birthdays)
• Agreeing or compromising with others

If a child doesn’t receive help for their EF weaknesses, they will continue to stumble as they get older. One study found that children who showed signs of executive dysfunction in kindergarten went on to face academic difficulties in elementary school. It can even impact their self-esteem and character development in time.

Helping Your Child Improve Executive Functioning Skills

Helping your little one improve their EF skills is one of the best ways parents can help! There are many ways to support your child, including hiring an academic coach and using therapy.

Academic Coaching

Unlike tutoring, academic coaching focuses on building skills that are applicable to all subjects. Academic tutors usually work with students on subject-specific skills, like math or science. If your child is struggling with a specific class, an academic tutor can be a great resource!

But for children with executive dysfunction, the problem isn’t subject-specific. They need to learn basic executive functioning skills like:

• Motivation
• Focus
• Organization
• Time management
• Building memory skills
• Setting goals
• Effective study methods
• Avoiding distractions
• Application of new information

In a way, an academic coach is a counselor and a tutor in one highly-effective package. They help children reach their potential by guiding them towards creating independent solutions. They’ll often start the session by asking about their school life, problems, and where they need help.

Academic coaching sessions are very empowering for students. They learn to analyze their difficulties and create their own solutions. This approach can be a big self-esteem boost for students who might lack confidence!

The Peak Academic Coaching Difference

Every academic coaching program is different. It’s vital to find one that suits your child’s needs and meets your expectations. Our coaching programs rely on seven core principles:

1. Accountability
2. Goal setting and tracking
3. Attitude improvement
4. Time management
5. Study skills
6. Developing work ethic
7. Ownership and independence

We work with students to guide them through the process of change. This technique includes becoming aware of new skills, understanding these skills, and reconditioning. Through the program, students learn to take control of their success and maintain it throughout their entire academic life.

Academic Tutoring

Like all students, children who struggle with EF skills have strengths and weaknesses. They might excel in the arts, while math brings them to tears. Writing essays might be a breeze, but planning a science project can seem impossible.

Academic tutors are your best solution for this problem. They help students with subject-specific skills in:

• Math
• Science
• English
• Social Sciences
• Foreign Languages

Tutors can get students back on track if they’re falling behind. They also work with students on their current schoolwork to help them through tough spots. Some students even team up with our tutors to get ahead in their coursework.

Combining academic tutoring with academic coaching is the best way to help students succeed. They can learn practical skills like studying and planning. At the same time, they improve in specific subjects to make their school days much more enjoyable!

Home Skills Training

Often, parents will need to make changes to supplement professional help. Executive dysfunction doesn’t only occur in the classroom, so home training is vital. The first step is to identify your child’s main weaknesses and create a plan.

If your little one struggles with time management, find ways to make time more visible. In practice, this can include creating:

• To-do lists
• Graphic organizers
• Family schedules
• Post-it note reminders

You can also build better systems of rules and routines. If morning time is a nightmare because of your child’s time management problems, try to change it! You can help them pick out their clothes and shower the night before.

Then encourage them to get their backpack ready right after their homework is complete for the night. Add five or ten-minute breaks throughout their homework sessions to help them relax and re-focus. These small changes at home can create remarkable changes in every sphere of their life.

Extracurricular Activities

Research shows that children who find their passion tend to put more energy and effort into them. Creative activities like music, art, and dance are great options. Team or individual sports are two other approaches to help children improve EF skills.

When children excel in something, it can boost their self-esteem. This increased confidence can then translate into the classroom. Extracurricular activities also enhance specific executive functioning skills like:

• Motivation
• Planning
• Focus
• Teamwork
• Goal setting
• Time management

And because the child is passionate about the activity, they’ll be willing to try harder to improve these skills. They’ll also get the opportunity to fine-tune their EF skills in social situations outside of school. Which, in turn, can lead to better social skills in the classroom!

Therapy

Therapies that teach children how to create new coping skills can be beneficial. Studies have found that occupational therapy is a good treatment for children with EF issues. Occupational therapy can give children the tools to handle difficult situations.

Another popular therapy type is behavior parent training (BPT). It challenges parents to change their parenting style to best fit their children. BPT encourages parents to:

• Provide more positive reinforcement
• Create a healthy parent-child relationship
• Stick to consistent rules and routines
• Focus on one change at a time

The benefit of BPT is that it’s a home-based approach. It can be an effective supplemental treatment to academic coaching and tutoring. And parents can feel more involved in their child’s progress and development.

Another at-home therapy is CogMed computerized working-memory training. Children play a simple computer game that develops working memory. The memory demands increase as they play and practice, raising their skill level.

Children can then relate these new skills to other aspects of their life, like academics. Most studies that focus on this treatment have found that it’s beneficial for young kids.

Boost Executive Functioning Skills for Student Success

So, what are executive functioning skills for students? They’re the most important element of academic success. Without executive functioning skills, students will often struggle, lose motivation, and fail to achieve their potential.

As a parent, helping your child with EF skills is one of the best things you can do. If you spot signs of executive dysfunction, we can help. At Peak Academic Coaching, we start by creating personalized solutions for your child.

Sign up for a consultation with us and we can help, whether your child needs academic coaching, tutoring, or both!