What are some challenges with executive functions?
Difficulty running long distances or keeping up in gym class
Struggling to remember specific facts for a history test
Difficulty setting goals, easily overwhelmed, disorganized
Having trouble learning a new language in school
What are executive functions?
The ability to speak multiple languages fluently
The ability to lift heavy objects and build strength
The ability to memorize facts and recall information instant
The ability to manage activities and behavior
Flexibility means…
Being able to bend and stretch during gym
Memorizing everything exactly as it is
Adapting to new situations and handling changes in plans
Never letting others influence your decisions
Which scenario shows sustained attention?
Talking to a friend during math class
Working on an essay for 30 minutes without distractions
Daydreaming during a lecture
Switching between five apps while studying
Which is a coping strategy that supports emotional regulation?
Avoiding tasks completely
Taking deep breaths before reacting
Ignoring feelings until they pass
Shouting to release frustration
Which one of these is not a part of executive functioning?
Comprehension
Mental Flexibility
Organization
Self Control
Which is the BEST example of emotional regulation?
Ignoring problems until they go away
Walking away from an argument to cool down
Yelling louder when someone disagrees
Pretending to be happy when upset
Which activity depends MOST on working memory?
Typing a paper with notes in front of you
Listening to music while drawing
Watching a movie twice to understand it
Following a multi-step recipe without re-reading
Planning means…
Always finishing tasks without breaks
Setting goals, breaking them into steps, and ordering them
Avoiding responsibility and letting others decide
Memorizing all the material for a test the night before
A student who blurts out answers, interrupts others, and acts before thinking likely struggles with…
Time management
Impulse control
Sustained attention
Flexibility
Which is the BEST example of time management?
Spending hours scrolling social media before homework
Breaking a big assignment into smaller tasks
Studying for a test the morning of class
Staying up all night and hoping for the best
Someone who often forgets their homework, feels overwhelmed, and struggles to set goals is showing…
Poor motor coordination
Strong self-control
High intelligence
Executive functioning challenges
A student is upset when their group project plan changes. They remind themselves, “That’s okay, I can try a different way.” This shows:
Organization
Working memory
Impulse control
Flexibility
Which tool is MOST helpful for improving sustained attention?
Checking notifications every 2 minutes
Listening to loud music while studying
The Pomodoro technique (work in timed chunks)
Eating a big meal before class
Why does organization matter?
It makes sports performance better
It helps save time and reduces stress
It guarantees you will get straight A’s
It prevents all mistakes
Which of these BEST shows poor organization?
Running late because of traffic
Needing glasses to see the board
Talking with friends at lunch
A messy locker with missing assignments