“Executive function is a set of mental processes that helps connect past experience with present action. People use it to perform activities such as planning, organizing, strategizing, paying attention to and remembering details, and managing time and space.” (LD.org – National Center for Learning Disabilities, 2010)
In school, at home, or in the workplace, we're called on all day, every day, to self-regulate behavior. Executive function allows us to:
•
Make plans
Make plans•Keep track of time and finish work on time
Keep track of time and finish work on time•Keep track of more than one thing at once
Keep track of more than one thing at once•Meaningfully include past knowledge in discussions
Meaningfully include past knowledge in discussions•Evaluate ideas and reflect on our work
Evaluate ideas and reflect on our work•Change our minds and make mid-course corrections while thinking, reading, and writing
Change our minds and make mid-course corrections while thinking, reading, and writing•Ask for help or seek more information when we need it
Ask for help or seek more information when we need it•Engage in group dynamics
Engage in group dynamics•Wait to speak until we're called on
Wait to speak until we're called on A student may have problems with executive function when he or she has trouble:
•Planning projects
Planning projects•Comprehending how much time a project will take to complete
Comprehending how much time a project will take to complete•Telling stories (verbally or in writing), struggling to communicate details in an organized, sequential manner
Telling stories (verbally or in writing), struggling to communicate details in an organized, sequential manner•Memorizing and retrieving information from memory
Memorizing and retrieving information from memory•Initiating activities or tasks, or generating ideas independently
Initiating activities or tasks, or generating ideas independently•Retaining information while doing something with it, for example, remembering a phone number while dialing
Retaining information while doing something with it, for example, remembering a phone number while dialing This information was taken from the National Center for Learning Disabilities website –
NCLD Editorial Staff. “What is Executive Functioning?” LD.org, National Center for Learning Disabilities. 17 Dec. 2010. http://www.ncld.org/ld-basics/ld-aamp-executive-functioning/basic-ef-facts/what-is-executive- function. 12 Apr. 2011.
