Understanding Executive Functioning: Why It Matters in Education
Redefining Success, Three ways Executive Functioning Challenges Show Up in School and Rethinking Executive Functioning Support
Written by Academic Coach, Amanda Burke
Redefining Success, Three ways Executive Functioning Challenges Show Up in School and Rethinking Executive Functioning Support
Executive Functioning
Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive processes that allow us to manage complex demands, set and achieve goals, and cope with challenges like shifting between tasks or controlling impulses. It involves the coordination of multiple neural networks, especially involving the prefrontal cortex, which governs decision-making, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control.
Executive functions are often seen as crucial to academic success. These processes – like planning, organizing, prioritizing, task initiation, time management, and emotional regulation – help students navigate the demands of school. However, what often goes unacknowledged is how much our current academic systems are built on rigid, outdated models that fail to support the diversity of human brains. By looking at executive functioning through a neurodiversity-affirming lens, and by reimagining how we support students, we can create more inclusive, equitable learning environments and help our kids become more confident, engaged learners.
Redefining Success: Challenging Harmful Norms in Education
Our societal values dictate which cognitive processes are deemed valuable and which are not. Many current models of “functioning” are rooted in a legacy of capitalism and ableism, where success is measured by productivity, efficiency, and conformity. As a result, students who don't fit into these molds are left feeling inadequate when, in reality, the system is what's broken.
Educational systems designed around neurotypical norms sometimes assume that all students are starting from an even playing field and that they can easily apply these skills. However, executive functioning skills are not static – they develop and change over time and are deeply affected by factors like brain development, trauma, neurodivergence (such as mental health and learning differences), sleep, and environmental stressors. As a result, many students struggle in environments that are not built to embrace cognitive diversity. For students with executive function challenges, school can be alienating and anxiety-inducing. Forgetting homework, losing track of assignments, and struggling with time management can lead to poor academic performance, not because students lack ability, but because the systems don’t support their cognitive needs. The importance of executive functions is undeniable, but many schools fail to adapt to the real-world diversity of how our brains work.
That said, we have the power to begin shifting narratives about what success means and what it looks like. We can push back on harmful norms and help our kids strengthen their executive functioning skills in ways that align with their values and honor their strengths.
With the support of an academic and executive functioning coach, your child can build a personalized set of strategies to address their executive functioning challenges, utilize their unique strengths, and gain the confidence to face their academic obstacles.
Three Ways Executive Functioning Challenges Show Up At School
Organization
Keeping track of assignments and creating structured routines is a challenge, especially when facing executive function difficulties. “Just use a planner” doesn’t work for everyone!Time Management
Our kids are often expected to easily estimate how long tasks will take and manage their time accordingly. But for many students, this isn’t intuitive. Rather than blaming students for procrastination or poor time management, we can support them in building systems that work with their strengths and existing rhythms.Emotional Regulation
Kids often experience big emotions, and school can exacerbate stress, anxiety, and emotional pressure. Students dealing with executive function challenges often struggle to navigate these feelings. Instead of seeing emotional outbursts or shutdowns as misbehavior, we can recognize these responses as indicators of unmet needs within an unsupportive system.
Rethinking Executive Functioning Support
The good news is that there are many ways to rethink how we approach executive functioning in education. Here are some tips for improving executive functioning by working with one’s brain rather than against it:
Set values-based goals: Help your kid set goals that align with their personal values, not just what others deem important. This keeps them motivated and connected to what truly matters to them.
Develop daily rhythms, routines, and habits that fit your brain: Routines that serve our needs should feel natural and sustainable rather than rigid, prioritizing balance between our various needs (social time, responsibilities, rest, etc.) Help your student create options for tackling tasks based on their energy levels. On low-energy days, they might choose a creative task and incorporate more accommodations and motivators into their work period, while on high-energy days, they can tackle harder assignments. This helps them learn to adapt their tasks to their “spoons” (energy) and needs that day, reinforcing self-trust and intuitive decision-making. An executive functioning coach can help your student figure out the right balance of structure and flexibility.
Use supportive tools: From visual aids like color-coded planners and mind maps to Pomodoro timers, fidget toys, or sensory supports, there is a wide range of tools that can help students feel more focused and motivated. Experiment to find what tools are most helpful for your kid’s needs.
Involve your community: Body doubling is a deceptively simple yet powerful strategy where having another person present, whether in person, online, or over the phone, can enhance focus and reduce distractions. The mere presence of someone else can create a sense of accountability and external structure, helping us stay on task. Additionally, body doubling can alleviate feelings of shame by normalizing and sharing our struggles with others. You can even work in public spaces, like a park with ambient noise, which adds gentle stimulation and a sense of community without direct pressure.
Compassionate coaching: At MES, executive function tutoring is all about empowering your kid with personalized strategies that play to their strengths. A compassionate tutor or coach can provide tools like planning strategies, emotional regulation techniques, and time management skills that support your student’s academic, cognitive, and emotional needs.
It’s time to reimagine how we approach executive functioning in education. Students who struggle with executive functioning are not broken – they are simply navigating a system that wasn’t designed for them. Personalized tutoring and coaching that focus on executive functioning skills can help bridge this gap, providing students with the individualized tools they need to thrive. We can create a more inclusive and equitable future in education by pushing back against rigid, ableist academic models and supporting students’ unique cognitive needs.