Improving working memory in middle school students isn’t just about remembering facts—it’s about helping students learn how to learn. As educators, we often notice puzzling behaviors: a student can’t recall multiplication facts, another drifts off mid-task, while another seems constantly distracted by everything happening around them. While these behaviors may seem like unrelated challenges, they […]

In grades 1–4, students are developing a wide range of cognitive, emotional, and social skills that shape their learning experience. When students struggle to meet short-term goals, estimate time, or remember assignments and due dates, these issues often stem from planning gaps—difficulties with the executive function skill of planning. Understanding and addressing these planning gaps […]

High school teachers across all subjects face a common classroom frustration—students who aren’t prepared, can’t keep track of their work, or struggle to complete multi-step assignments. These organizational challenges are more than just forgetfulness or laziness; they are often rooted in executive function skill deficits. When we recognize and respond to these difficulties with intentional […]

When middle school students begin to struggle with large workloads, miss deadlines, or lose momentum on long-term assignments, teachers often see this as a motivational or behavioral issue. But these are often signs of a deeper challenge: executive functioning deficits in planning skills. Understanding the connection between executive function challenges and student behaviors is essential […]