Executive Functioning Skills

 

Executive Functioning Skills are the skills in our brain that help us to accomplish tasks. By learning about executive functioning skills, we can grow to be better learners.

 

Planning is the ability to figure out how to accomplish goals.  It includes analyzing what you need and what steps you need to take to complete a task.

 

Organization is the ability to develop and maintain a system that keeps materials and plans orderly. 

 

Time Management is having an accurate understanding of how long tasks will take and using time wisely and effectively to accomplish tasks.  It includes pacing yourself and meeting deadlines

 

Task Initiation is the ability to independently start tasks when needed.  It is the process that allows you to just begin something even when you don't really want to.

 

Working Memory is the mental processes that allow us to hold information in our minds while working with it.  It is important for remembering information, following directions, and completing academic problems

 

Metacognition is being aware of what you know and what you don't know.  It is being able to understand what you need in order to  improve your learning. 

 

Self-Control is the ability to regulate yourself, including your thoughts, actions, and emotions.  It includes being able to stop yourself and think through situations before making a decision.

 

Attention is being able to focus on a person or task for a period of time. It includes avoiding distractions and being able to shift your focus to a new task quickly when needed. 

 

Flexibility is the ability  to adapt to new situations and deal with change. It includes perspective-taking and making decisions to fix problems that come along.   

 

Perserverance is the ability to stick with a task and not give up, even when it becomes challenging.  It includes using strategies to overcome roadblocks and problems that come up along the way.