Executive Function and Learning Insights.

Explore research, strategies, and ideas that connect executive function to learning success.

What is Emotional Control?

When we think about the factors that impact a student’s success in school, academic ability and behavior often come to mind first. But there’s another key ingredient that often goes unnoticed: emotional control. This essential executive function skill plays a vital role in a student’s ability to stay focused, respond (...)

Discussing Flexibility: Student Talk to Build Flexible Thinking Skills in Grades 1–4

Discussing flexibility is one of the most powerful ways elementary teachers can help young students build essential executive function skills. As part of executive function instruction, teaching flexibility helps students develop the ability to shift their thinking, adapt to new situations, and problem-solve when things don’t go as expected. When (...)

5 Practical Ways to Strengthen Working Memory in Middle School Classrooms

Helping students strengthen working memory is one of the most impactful ways to improve academic performance and support overall executive function development. Working memory allows students to hold and manipulate information in their minds while completing tasks—whether they’re solving a math problem, following multi-step directions, or participating in a class (...)

Reflective Writing for Teaching Planning: Empowering High School Students Through Metacognition and Executive Function Instruction

Reflective writing is one of the most powerful tools educators can use to help students build metacognitive awareness and strengthen their executive function skills. In the high school classroom, reflective writing not only improves student engagement but also becomes a key strategy in teaching executive function skills like planning. In (...)