Posted September 20, 2021 in Articles
Just Imagine:
Your 16-year-old daughter is a great kid by all accounts. She’s charming and funny; has many friends; and is recognized by her teachers as bright and hardworking. However, even with multiple alarm clocks, checklists, post-it note reminders, and plenty of old-fashioned parental nagging, she’s struggling to get it together. And it takes quite a wide variety of forms...
She’s habitually late and has a reputation for misplacing things. In the last month alone, she’s lost her house keys, her jacket, her backpack, and a brand new cell phone she’d spent the better part of a year saving for. Instead of letter grades, her school’s online grading portal lists “incomplete” for several assignments you personally watched her finish (but apparently, never actually turned in). And even though the two of you collaborated on her bedroom’s new look—choosing brightly-colored bedding along with handy bins, hooks, and cubbies to keep belongings organized—her floor has become a breeding ground for old papers, empty water bottles, and dirty clothes; a far cry from the photos of tidy and stylish spaces pinned on her inspo board.
In a few years, she’ll embark on her college journey; and while you recognize her passion and potential, you’re deeply worried about her ability to juggle academics and other responsibilities in such an unstructured setting.
If you don’t need to imagine… if parts of this story sound all too familiar—you’re not alone.
Thousands of young people are challenged in the areas of executive function. Inefficiency in the cognitive management systems of the brain affects a person’s ability to plan, organize, manage time, and pay attention to and remember details. Although not technically considered a learning difference, patterns of weakness in these areas are commonly seen in the learning profiles of individuals identified with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and ADHD.
The good news is these skills can improve! Strong executive functioning can develop over time with evidence-based instruction and targeted coaching.
“We are all creatures of habit, but with praise and lots of repetition, kids with executive function challenges can and will overcome their struggles. Be patient, consistent, and stay positive—they’ll get there!”
Lawrence School, a K–12 independent school serving students who learn differently, understands these challenges and designed a curriculum to specifically address them. Lawrence’s signature Intervention & Executive Function program, dubbed IE, methodically teaches students in grades 9–12 to establish a routine, stay organized, meet deadlines, and communicate with teachers. Consistent reinforcement of these teachings not only strengthens a student’s executive function skills, but ensures they permanently take hold and become part of everyday life.
On the surface, IE looks a lot like a traditional study hall—a large airy room filled with desks and a collection of students reading and completing assignments. Some work quietly on their own, while others meet with teachers or study in small groups. What the casual observer cannot see is the complex ways these learners are being systematically trained to build upon and improve essential life skills.
Repetition, routine, and self-advocacy are the cornerstones of the IE program. Class always begins with students reviewing the assignments logged in their daily planner. They prioritize their to-do list and get to work. But before they begin, they use a special column in their school-issued planner to record an estimate of how long they expect the project or task to take. When completed, they reference a timer and record the minutes in actuality. Through trial and error (with no negative consequences), many find their estimates are off. Daily repetition of this routine sharpens their time management and prioritization abilities significantly.
Each weekday, IE focuses on a specific goal. For instance, on Mondays students take time to review their online grade book, looking for any missed assignments or inconsistencies to discuss with teachers. On other days, they organize and purge unneeded materials from folders or clean out their email inbox, among other good habit-forming practices. The last few minutes of the period are always dedicated to self-evaluation. Students assess their use of class time, which reinforces accountability and helps them identify their strengths and weaknesses.
As they become more competent and independent with their executive functioning, students need less and less support. Although, none of this happens in a vacuum—the IE classroom is abuzz with dedicated executive function specialists, as well as other faculty interacting with students, asking questions, guiding, and modeling. And unlike a typical study hall where young people who struggle might become silent or simply shut down, IE reinforces that seeking help is not only okay, but encouraged.
Many of these techniques can also be implemented at home. Michelle Willard and Dianne Wilson, long-time Lawrence faculty and co-creators of IE, urge parents to keep three Rs in mind: routine, reminders, and reinforcement. After years of working with students and families, their advice rings true: “We are all creatures of habit, but with praise and lots of repetition, kids with executive function challenges can and will overcome their struggles. Be patient, consistent, and stay positive—they’ll get there!”
Strengthen Executive Functioning at Home
1. Create checklists for morning, after school, and bedtime. People who struggle with executive function benefit from easy-to-follow steps. Over time, these checklists will solidify their routine until it becomes automatic.
2. Time awareness can be particularly tricky, but the use of a visual timer makes the concept of minutes and hours less abstract. Use one around the house while completing chores or counting down until it’s time to leave; your child will soon gain a greater understanding of the difference between 10 and 30 minutes.
3. Create a distraction-free work space dedicated to homework and studying; and schedule a consistent daily time to work there.
4. Embrace technology! There are many apps, devices, and digital calendars on the market that can be programmed to send reminders. These tools are instrumental in helping teens manage time and stick to a schedule.
5. Act as a coach and guide, but ultimately allow your child to manage their own resources. Setting their morning alarm, packing their own lunch, and ensuring their backpack contains everything they need for the coming day will bolster self-confidence and lead to greater independence.