Executive function around the clock
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Josh is a sixth grader who struggles with executive function skills like organization, working memory, flexibility, self-monitoring, and task initiation. The document follows Josh through a typical day where he has trouble remembering his cleats for soccer, setting the table correctly, remembering plays in soccer, controlling his behavior at lunch, and procrastinating on a history paper until late at night. Executive function skills help people connect past experiences to present actions but kids with learning issues can struggle profoundly with these skills due to an inability to prioritize tasks and shift between aspects of a task.
Executive function around the clock
- 1. 11 A.M. I don’t know… I wasn’t thinking about those words when I read last night. I’m so overwhelmed. Josh’s English teacher stands at the blackboard and asks: “Tell me how last night’s reading relates to the words on the board.” Every hand in the class goes up…except for Josh’s. His heart sinks thinking about all the steps answering this question takes. EF Area: WORKING MEMORY EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AROUND THE CLOCK Hi, I'm Josh! Argh! Josh knows that he has forgotten something. Ah, that’s it—his cleats for today’s game. He sprints back inside the house to get them … and leaves his backpack in the kitchen. He walks right past the checklist his mom made to help him remember what he needs for school. But it’s too late: The bus is here and about to pull away! He’s going to miss it again. EF Area: ORGANIZATION 7 A.M. Meet Josh, a sixth grader who struggles with executive function. This is a day in his life.
- 2. 6 P.M. It is time for dinner — but first, Josh has to set the table. Hmm. Josh scratches his head and tries to remember exactly what goes at each place setting. He thinks he has got it right this time, but his little sister reminds him that he doesn’t. How dare she! He blows up screaming at her. Moooo-oooom. Josh didn’t put the cups on the table AGAIN! EF Area: ORGANIZATION, EMOTIONAL CONTROL 3 P.M. Time for soccer! A team- mate kicks the ball toward Josh. He knows that in soccer, you do one thing—you kick that ball as hard as you can! But where? He can’t exactly remember, so he just kicks. Wham! Uh-oh. He’s sent the ball right into his own team’s net. Anger brews on his teammates’ faces as Josh’s heart sinks yet again. EF Area: FLEXIBILITY, WORKING MEMORY 1 P.M. He never lets anyone else talk! Sooooo weird. It’s the best part of the school day…lunch! At a table with his friends, Josh shouts at a mile a minute and jumps in and out of his seat. He doesn’t even notice that the lunch monitor is glaring at him and that his friends look annoyed. EF Area: SELF-MONITORING, IMPULSE CONTROL Last night I was playing my video games and it was AMAZING!!! There were like eighty-five CRAZY MONSTERS and I GOT ALL OF THEM, POW-POW-POW-POW-POW-POW!!
- 3. Finally, the paper is done and Josh can catch a few hours of Z’s. But he can’t seem to drift off to sleep—he’s worried that he didn’t do the paper right. And then there’s the problem he’ll discover tomorrow morning: His disorganization has gotten the best of him, and he forgot to put the finished paper in his backpack. 3 A.M. Finally, the paper is done! But did I even do it right? I can never tell… EF Area: SELF MONITORING, ORGANIZATION Delays and procrastination mean that Josh is burning the midnight oil. He is exhausted, but his history paper is due tomorrow. But he just can’t figure out a structure for his paper and the steps he needs to take to get it done. 12 A.M. EF Area: PLANNING & SETTING PRIORITIES After hours of cajoling from his mom, Josh finally sits down to do his homework. But, ugh, where to begin? He knows he has several projects and papers that need attention, but what’s due when? What needs done for tomorrow? Overwhelmed, he puts his head down. 8 P.M. I don't even know where to start. EF Area: TASK INITIATION Illustrations by Fil Vocasek
- 4. Executive function is a set of mental processes that help us connect past experience with present action. These are skills and processes each of us use every day. Children and adults with learning and attention issues often struggle profoundly with many of these skills. The model of a “clogged funnel” (Meltzer, 2004, 2007, 2010) helps us understand the challenges faced by Josh and students like him. They struggle with open-ended tasks because they’re unable to prioritize and organize the various steps. They have difficulty shifting between aspects of a task and often over-focus on details. They lose track of main ideas. They have difficulty checking their work and often forget to hand in completed work. ABOUT EXECUTIVE FUNCTION EXECUTIVE FUNCTION PROCESSES Organizing Prioritizing Shifting / Thinking Flexibly Accessing Working Memory Self-Monitoring / Self-Checking This infographic was adapted from a “Clogged Funnel” infographic created by ResearchILD. Learn more at LD.org The National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) improves the lives of all people with learning difficulties and disabilities by empowering parents, enabling young adults, transforming schools, and creating policy and advocacy impact. We envision a society in which every individual possesses the academic, social and emotional skills needed to succeed in school, at work and in life. facebook.com/LD.org twitter.com/LDorg pinterest.com/ncld