Resources for Identifying and Supporting Executive Function Skills in the Classroom

“Being able to focus, hold, and work with information in mind, filter distractions, and switch gears is like having an air traffic control system at a busy airport to manage the arrivals and departures of dozens of planes on multiple runways. In the brain, this air traffic control mechanism is called executive function.”

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

Defining Executive Function Skills

• Building the Brain’s “Air Traffic Control” System: How Early Experiences Shape the Development of Executive Function Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
• Executive Function & Self-Regulation Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
• Executive Functioning Skills: Definitions & Development By Age Beyond Booksmart
• Executive Functioning Skills: The Ultimate Guide Pathway2Success
• Executive Skill Definitions Smart But Scattered Kids
• InBrief: Executive Function Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
• What Is Executive Function? And How Does It Relate to Child Development? Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

Classroom Strategies and Accommodations

• 12 Executive Functioning Exercises For Small Groups Life Skills Advocate
• 15+ Executive Functioning Strategies Every Teacher Can Use Pathway2Success
• 17 Ways to Teach Executive Functioning Skills in School EF Specialists
• 4 Ways Classroom Design Impacts Executive Functioning Edutopia
• 4 Ways to Promote Executive Functioning Skills in Middle and High School Edutopia
• 5 Ways to Help Neurodiverse Students Improve Executive Function Skills Edutopia
• 6 Ways to Use Your Smartphone to Improve Executive Function Skills Hill Learning Center
• Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
• Boost Executive Functioning: Top 5 AI Tools To Organize Your Life Life Skills Advocate
• Classroom Accommodations for Executive Function Challenges Understood
• Executive Function Skills for All Students SAIS
• Executive Functioning 101 Resource Hub Life Skills Advocate
• Executive Functioning and Kindergarten Readiness Edutopia
• Executive Functioning Interventions Montgomery County Public Schools
• How to Foster Executive Function in Every Grade Carnegie Learning
• How to Make Stuff More EF Friendly Life Skills Advocate
• Six Tips for Developing Students’ Executive Functioning Skills ASCD
• Strengthening Executive Function Development for Students With ADD Edutopia
• The Executive Function Toolkit Branching Minds
• Using Games to Help Students Develop Executive Function Skills Edutopia
• Using Technology to Support 10 Executive Functioning Skills Edutopia

Interested in learning more about executive function skills and how to support students? Make plans to attend the SAIS Academic Support Conference in Atlanta, February 11-13, 2024. Related session topics include Building Executive Functioning Skills in the Study Skills Classroom and Motivating & Engaging Students in Executive Function Work.