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 […]

Reflective writing is one of the most powerful tools educators can use to help students build metacognitive awareness and strengthen their executive function skills. In the high school classroom, reflective writing not only improves student engagement but also becomes a key strategy in teaching executive function skills like planning. In this blog post, we’ll explore […]

If you’ve ever had a student miss a deadline, cram for a test at the last minute, or freeze up when assigned a long-term project, you’ve seen what it looks like when students struggle to plan. These aren’t isolated incidents of laziness or lack of motivation—they’re often signs of an executive function skill deficit in […]

Executive function skills are foundational for student success, and planning is one of the most crucial skills. But what exactly is planning? In the realm of executive function instruction, planning refers to the ability to set goals, create step-by-step plans, and follow through within a designated timeframe. For students in grades 1st-12th, developing strong planning […]