Strategic Connections™ On-Track’s Executive Function Skills Training Program
What is executive function and how does it affect learning?
Executive Function (EF) refers to a set of skills responsible for things like Planning, Prioritizing, Organization, Task Initiation, Working Memory, Flexible Thinking, Impulse Control, and Emotional Control. This set of skills functions like the “command center” of the brain and is commonly referred to as the brain’s Chief Executive Officer. Like the CEO of a company, EF is responsible for making sure things get done, from the planning stages to the final output.
Every day we use executive function skills in activities such as decision making, strategizing, troubleshooting, managing our emotions, paying attention, keeping “on-task”, and remembering details. Students with EF challenges may have difficulty with: keeping track of time, completing school work and projects on time, working successfully in a group, memorizing information and retrieving information from memory, waiting to speak until called on, asking for help, and more.
Executive Function skills training is essential for children identified with ADD/ADHD or other learning differences; however, plenty of people lack executive function skills without having a diagnosed learning disability or attention deficit. Our program teaches kids and teens to plan, prioritize, estimate time requirements, self monitor, start and shift tasks, and organize effectively, despite any learning or attention difficulties.
The brain continues to mature and develop connections well into adulthood, and a person’s executive function abilities are shaped by both physical changes in the brain and by life experiences, in the classroom and in the world at large. Early attention to developing efficient skills in this area can be very helpful, and as a rule, direct instruction, frequent reassurances, and explicit feedback are strongly recommended.
Empowers kids & teens, helping them to:
Enhance organizational & time-management systems and learn to prioritize
Complete homework & projects on time, avoiding last-minute situations
Ask for help when needed & learn other essential self-advocacy skills
Think critically, & to make corrections while reading and writing
Participate in class & engage in group discussions
Increase self-esteem by maximizing strengths & achieving results!
Empowers Parents, helping them to:
Remove themselves from the “nagging” role
Get (or keep!) your relationship on the right track
Entrust your child with greater responsibility and accountability
Empower your child with critical life skills
Could my family benefit from On-Track’s Strategic Connections™ Training?
Signs that your child may have problems with executive function:
Chronic disorganization
Challenges in reading comprehension and/or math
Difficulty with note-taking (including hearing and/or identifying main idea & important details)
Difficulty with multi-step directions
Often losing track of time
Trouble with generating ideas independently
Ongoing problems with writing (including organizing thoughts, developing sentences/paragraphs, creating a cohesive paper inclusive of important facts & details)
Challenges with estimating the amount of time a task will take (such as daily homework or a long-term project)
Difficulty with memorizing facts
Struggling with retelling a story or event; may not be able to communicate details in an organized, sequential manner
Experiencing frustration with recalling information
Trouble with initiating activities or tasks
Difficulty retaining information while doing something with it (remembering instructions during an exam, for example)
Habitually losing or misplacing belongings, forgetting to bring necessary books, etc. home from school, or forgetting to turn in homework
Becoming agitated when forced to “switch gears” to another subject or activity
Academic success and skills that last a lifetime.
Our one-on-one, individualized Strategic Connections™ program works! Contact us for more information on how we can help empower your child and family.