Introduction to Exectutive Function

Executive Function skills are essential life skills that help with planning, organizing, initiating, and following through on tasks. For many learners, this does not come easily, but with time and practice, these skills can be mastered!

We can learn executive function skills that help us in daily life. They are the basis for so many things we do! Executive function skills enable us to plan, organize, start, and follow through with all tasks. These include things we do for school and fun. 

Who would benefit from improving their executive function skills? Everyone! We are never too old or too accomplished to be interested in enhancing these skills. Getting and staying organized, planning for long-term goals, and dealing with change are just a few examples of things we get better at when we work on these skills. Each new week begins with a short paper-based self-assessment as part of the workbook learners will be provided weekly. After completing the assessment, we will move into our lesson for the week. Weekly lessons will be delivered through conversation, group work, and games.

Week 1
ORGANIZATION
Organization Self-Assessment
Let's learn about Organization
Organized for School
Organization Project

Week 2
PLANNING / PRIORITIZATION
Planning Self-Assessment
Let's learn about Planning / Prioritization
Planning your routine

Week 3
TASK INITIATION
Task Initiation Self-Assessment
Let's learn about Task Initiation
Why do we procrastinate?
Overcoming procrastination

Week 4 
TIME MANAGEMENT
Time Management Self-Assessment
Let's learn about: Time Management
Time Management for school work
Time management project

Week 5 
SUSTAINED ATTENTION
Sustained Attention Self-Assessment
Let's learn about: Sustained Attention
Sustained Attention strategies for learning
Managing distractions

Week 6
WORKING MEMORY
Working Memory Self-Assessment
Working Memory Strategies
Working Memory practice

Week7
SELF-CONTROL
Self-control self-Assessment
Let's learn about Self-control
Pause, think, choose
Improving Self-control little by little

Week 8
EMOTIONAL REGULATION
Emotional Regulation Self-Assessment
Let's learn about Emotional Regulation
Understanding emotions
Expressing emotions in healthy ways

Week 9
PERSEVERANCE
Perseverance Self-Assessment
Let's learn about Perseverance
Perseverance strategies
Perseverance practice

Week 10 
FLEXIBILITY
FlexibiltySelf-Assessment
Let's learn about Flexibility
• Problem Solving

Week 11
METACOGNITION
Metacognition Self-Assessment
Let's learn about Metacognition
Metacognition Strategies

Week 12 - 
Wrap-up and Games

Why is it important to learn about and work on improving our executive function skills? The answer to that is both easy and complicated at the same time. Improving executive function skills makes life better; it gives us the tools we need to navigate the nuances that make up daily life. When we have the skills to begin tasks, manage our time effectively, develop better self-control, and work through any problems we face, we feel successful and create a positive outlook. We grow in contentment and joy and feel open to trying new things. Yet executive function skills don't always or even usually come naturally. It takes time and intention to master these skills.