Working memory governs our ability to retain and manipulate distinct pieces of information over short periods of time. Mental flexibility helps us to sustain or shift attention in response to different demands or to apply different rules in different settings. Self-control enables us to set priorities and resist impulsive actions or responses. View Related Key Concepts. Briefs : InBrief: Executive Function. Briefs : 8 Things to Remember about Child Development.
Through explicit instruction and modeling, students can come to recognize the importance of taking charge of their executive functioning in their academic endeavors and later in their careers. Executive functions can be defined as the awareness and directive capacities of the mind.
By wielding these skills and abilities, students decide where to focus their attention and which tasks to undertake. As a general rule of thumb, when students of any age have difficulty completing developmentally appropriate academic tasks on their own, executive functioning may be at the root of the problem.
In the human brain, executive functions are primarily regulated by the prefrontal regions just behind the forehead of the frontal lobes. Neuroscientists and psychologists have made significant gains in understanding the brain's executive functioning over the past several decades.
An appropriate metaphor that often helps students and educators alike understand the role of executive functioning in thinking and behavior is to imagine an orchestra conductor. The conductor chooses what work the orchestra will perform, decides how to interpret that work, sets the tempo for the performance, and directs each section of musicians to contribute at the appropriate time.
In the same way, executive functioning allows us to:. Students can and should be taught to develop their executive functioning as a path to self-directed learning and self-determined living. We have found that educators today are more interested than ever in teaching students to wield powerful learning and thinking tools. In other blog posts and articles we have written with Edutopia and elsewhere , we have shared popular, practical strategies for increasing students' executive functioning by teaching them how and when to employ cognitive assets , metacognition , working memory , and selective attention.
All of these learning tools come together under the umbrella of executive functioning. Teaching students that they are the "conductors of their own brains" conveys the need to master a wide range of thinking and learning tools for use across core academic subjects, in their personal lives, and later in their college years and careers.
They may also work on strategies for managing behavior. Organizational coaching. These are consultants you can hire. Instead, they work on building organization and time management skills.
They can also work on study skills. Learn more about organizational coaches. For families: Explore our guide to executive functioning issues in kids. For educators: Learn about strategy instruction as a teaching practice that can help these students. Do you think you might have ADHD? More on: Root causes. Share What is executive function? Podcast Wunder community app. Main menu Our work Blog Surveys and research. Join our team Privacy policy Terms of use Fundraising disclosure Sitemap.
Snapshot: What executive function is. There are three main areas of executive function. They are:. Working memory Cognitive flexibility also called flexible thinking Inhibitory control which includes self-control. Executive function is responsible for many skills, including:.
Signs of executive functioning issues. Possible causes of executive functioning issues. Also, trouble with executive function often occurs with learning challenges. Diagnosing and treating executive functioning issues. Attention Inhibitory control Working memory Organization and planning Concept formation Set shifting the ability to shift from one task to another Word and idea generation. Some of these same professionals offer treatments and approaches like:.
People with ADHD struggle with executive function. Related topics Root causes Root causes. Continue reading.
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