Practicing self-control is one of the most critical components of a successful middle school experience. Whether students are managing impulses, resisting distractions, or responding thoughtfully in social situations, self-control is central to their development of strong executive function skills. Teaching executive function skills like self-control not only empowers students to take ownership of their learning […]

Practicing flexibility is a powerful way to support young learners in building their executive function skills. In grades 1–4, students are still developing their ability to adapt to change, shift their thinking, and regulate their emotional responses when things don’t go as expected. Teaching executive function skills like flexibility helps meet student learning needs, builds […]

Helping students improve self-monitoring is one of the most impactful ways high school teachers can support academic success and overall student growth. Self-monitoring—an essential executive function skill—involves a student’s ability to track their own behavior and performance, evaluate it against goals or expectations, and adjust as needed. This skill is a critical piece of the […]

Helping students strengthen working memory is one of the most impactful ways to improve academic performance and support overall executive function development. Working memory allows students to hold and manipulate information in their minds while completing tasks—whether they’re solving a math problem, following multi-step directions, or participating in a class discussion. By integrating executive function […]