Improving Self-Control: Understanding the Connection Between Student Behavior and Executive Function Deficits

Posted In Behaviors On April 8, 2025

In middle school classrooms, many teachers encounter students who struggle with self-regulation. Some students have a hard time staying calm when expected, others blurt out inappropriate comments, and some don’t recognize when they need to stop a certain behavior. These challenges are often indicators of an executive function deficit, particularly in the area of self-control. Improving self-control is essential for student success as it directly impacts classroom behavior, academic performance, and peer interactions.

Click here to learn more: What is Self-Control?

The Role of Self-Control as an Executive Function

Executive function refers to a set of cognitive skills that help students manage their thoughts, actions, and emotions. When students struggle with self-control, it is often because their executive functioning skills are underdeveloped. Teaching executive function skills through targeted executive function instruction can help these students improve their ability to regulate their actions, emotions, and behaviors.

Let’s take a closer look at three common student behaviors, how they relate to executive function deficits, and what strategies can be put into place to support students:

1. Student Has a Hard Time Staying Calm When It’s Time

Middle school can be an emotionally charged environment, and some students have difficulty managing their actions and responses. When students cannot regulate their actions, it disrupts learning and can cause conflict in peer relationships.

Supportive Strategies:

• Incorporate executive function lessons on recognizing emotions and developing coping strategies.
• Use executive function tools such as charts to help students track their emotional responses.
• Implement student engagement strategies like mindfulness activities and breathing exercises to help students regain control.

2. Student Struggles to Keep Undesirable Thoughts to Themselves

Blurting out inappropriate or off-topic thoughts can be a sign of impulse control difficulties. A student who lacks self-control in this area may frequently interrupt the class, make inappropriate comments, or struggle to respect social norms. These behaviors impact students’ social skills and overall classroom dynamics.

Supportive Strategies:

• Use explicit executive function instruction to teach students strategies for pausing and thinking before speaking.
• Implement a student behavior management system that reinforces appropriate participation.
• Encourage student empowerment by teaching students to use private cues (e.g., tapping their fingers) as a reminder to filter their responses.

3. Student Struggles to Recognize When Actions Need to Stop

Some students continue behaviors even when it’s clear that they should stop, such as talking after the teacher has asked for silence or continuing to play after the transition bell rings. These behaviors can signal that the student is struggling with self-regulation.

Supportive Strategies:

• Use executive function learning techniques such as visual timers and transition cues.
• Teach executive function strategies that focus on self-awareness, such as checklists and reflection journals.
• Provide executive functioning tools like behavior contracts that outline expectations and self-regulation techniques.

Using an Executive Function Curriculum for Improving Self-Control

By addressing self-control deficits with targeted executive function instruction, teachers can help students develop skills that improve academic performance and social interactions. A structured executive function curriculum can provide step-by-step strategies for improving self-control, empowering students to regulate their behavior more effectively.

To create a customized approach, teachers should assess their students’ executive function learning needs. Understanding which executive function deficits are most prominent allows for more effective intervention and student confidence building.

Executive Function Tools for the Classroom

To effectively support students in improving self-control, teachers can incorporate various executive function tools, including:

• Behavioral self-assessments to help students recognize patterns in their actions.
• Visual reminders and cues to reinforce classroom expectations.
• Student strategies for self-regulation to build awareness of emotional responses and impulses.

By integrating these student engagement strategies, teachers can improve students’ academic performance and equip them with lifelong skills for self-regulation.

Empowering Students for Long-Term Success

Improving self-control is not just about managing behavior in the classroom—it’s about equipping students with the skills they need to navigate life successfully. By embedding executive function instruction into daily teaching practices, educators can foster an environment where students develop greater self-awareness, stronger decision-making skills, and improved self-regulation. This, in turn, leads to a more productive and positive learning experience for all students.

Click here to explore our platform and learn how to evaluate student behaviors to create a customized executive function curriculum.

By focusing on executive function instruction and intervention, middle school teachers can create meaningful change in their classrooms, helping students build the self-control skills necessary for success in school and beyond.