Menu

Strategies to Support Executive Function

Take the time to know your students and understand their profile and their strengths and needs.​

Explicitly teach the concept of Executive Functions and practice those skills as a class.

Activation: organizing, prioritizing and activating to work
  • Learning Skills: Organization and Initiative
  • Classroom Strategy: ​
    • Explicitly teach and model how to break tasks into simple steps

Focus: focusing, sustaining and shifting attention to tasks
  • Learning Skill: Independent Work
  • Classroom Strategy: 
    • ​Provide instructions in a number of ways (written, oral, visual)
    • Chunk information and instructions for tasks

Effort: regulating and sustaining alertness, and speed of execution
  • Learning Skill: Responsibility
  • Classroom Strategy: 
    • ​Explicitly teach and model the amount of time required to complete a task
    • Encourage use of organizational tools (e.g. agendas, calendars). Know your student and what works for them. Agendas can be a waste of time for some students

Emotion: managing frustration and regulating emotions
  • Learning Skills: Collaboration and Self-regulation
  • Classroom Strategy: 
    • ​Give descriptive and authentic feedback and positive reinforcement frequently​

Memory: using working memory and accessing recall
  • Learning Skill: Independent Work
  • Classroom Strategy: 
    • ​Keep instructions simple and provide them in a number of ways
    • Check for understanding of instructions
    • Use colour coding to help with memory and organization​

Action: monitoring and self-regulating behaviour
  • Learning Skill: Self-regulation
  • Classroom Strategy:
    • ​Frequent check-ins - establish rapport and check-in regularly
    • Work together with student to develop strategies
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Executive Function
    • What is Executive Function?
    • Executive Functions and the Ontario Learning Skills
    • Universal Design for Learning
    • Strategies to Support Executive Functions
    • Executive Function Resources
  • Building Empathy in the Digital Age: The Power of Story
  • 21st Century Teaching and Learning
  • About Me
    • Stuff I'm up to
    • Contact
  • Blog
  • Technology, Inclusion and Universal Design for Learning
  • Home
  • Executive Function
    • What is Executive Function?
    • Executive Functions and the Ontario Learning Skills
    • Universal Design for Learning
    • Strategies to Support Executive Functions
    • Executive Function Resources
  • Building Empathy in the Digital Age: The Power of Story
  • 21st Century Teaching and Learning
  • About Me
    • Stuff I'm up to
    • Contact
  • Blog
  • Technology, Inclusion and Universal Design for Learning