"...a set of cognitive abilities that
control and regulate other abilities and behaviors. Executive functions
are necessary for goal-directed behavior. They include the ability to
initiate and stop actions, to monitor and change behavior as needed, and
to plan future behavior when faced with novel tasks and situations.
Executive functions allow us to anticipate outcomes and adapt to changing
situations. The ability to form concepts and think abstractly are often
considered components of executive function."
Some skills and abilities that make up executive function include:
Self-monitoring
Planning
Organization
Emotional control
Initiation
Shifting
Working memory
Children with ADD and ADHD frequently struggle in this area. A lack of executive function skills can have a dramatic impact throughout one's life, as it affects self-regulation and the ability to work toward achieving a goal. Therefore, we put special emphasis on developing these skills in all of our students while they are with us at Lexis Prep.
All students spend time each day learning and practicing executive function skills; it is built into our curriculum as well as being explicitly taught. We also have extended homeroom periods in which we work on executive function skill development and utilization.
