Executive Functioning Skills

 "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." 

- Maya Angelou


This week we discussed executive functioning skills and how these skills are different from mere intelligence. Taking “in” facts and remembering them is often a strength of learners who are gifted. However, acting on ideas or having “output” is a different set of skills. 


Fundamental skills related to executive functioning:

  • Metacognition
  • Planning
  • Organization
  • Time Management
  • Task Initiation
  • Working Memory
  • Attention
  • Self-Control
  • Perseverance
  • Flexibility


Day-to-day examples of executive functioning skills include:


  • Taking notes

  • Writing down assignments and ideas

  • Organizing materials

  • Prioritizing assignments

  • Writing structured responses

  • Having a study schedule

  • Making a to-do list


We talked about how we have to learn these skills by breaking them down and practicing them before they are needed for difficult classes or pursuits. If a class is easy, we may be tempted to by-bass these skills, but we will need them for the future so they are important to practice! 


In order to practice the part of executive functioning that involves planning ahead and being resourceful, students were led through the following exercise.


  • Each student was prompted to list their top 3 goals/tasks for the day. -

  • What do they need for these tasks? 

  • Do they have what they need? If not, how can they be resourceful?

  • Where are they at concerning completion of their daily tasks? What is going well and what can be improved? In addition, what is their week-long goal for their work? What is happening in the next two weeks that can be contributed to today?

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