Grades 6th-8th
EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS-MIDDLE SCHOOL
Middle school students range in age from 11-13. This is a time of increased school expectations and multiple classes. Responsibility and work load increases, and many parents begin to see their students struggling academically. This is a critical time for building on the foundational Executive Function skills that hopefully began in K-5th grade. Even if those skills were not developed prior, they still can be.
MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS
Self-Regulation-the ability to manage strong emotions appropriately and to control impulsive behaviors.
Attention-to successfully sustain attention during lengthy or challenging tasks, as well as daily instruction.
Task Initiation-independently start a task when needed, especially one that is not preferred.
Organization-the ability to keep track of materials both at home and in school, to be able to organize, especially for essays and research papers.
Planning and Prioritizing-successfully map out and complete efficiently multi-step tasks such as projects, by determining assignment priority based on a variety of factors.
Time Management-ability to judge how long a task will take and to schedule the time accordingly.
SIGNS OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTION DEFICIENCY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Organizational challenges-students have difficulty organizing work, their backpack, locker, or desk. They may struggle with multiple-step instructions for assignments or may lose or forget to turn in homework.
Behavior or emotional management challenges-students may appear impulsive or easily frustrated, they struggle to resist online distractions and have difficulty settling down after transitions. They may also struggle with completing undesirable tasks.
Time management challenges-students may leave work until the last minute, causing undue stress and frustration at home, or they may believe an assignment will take a shorter time period to complete than it actually does.
Academic challenges-students who lack persistence often do not complete or even start assignments. They may also do poorly on tests due to lacking study skills and habits, and may also lose credit for late assignments.
DO YOU FIND YOURSELF ASKING:
Why does my child wait to the last minute to do homework and assignments?
How can I help my child manage their frustration?
How can I help my child improve their self-confidence?
My child is smart so why are their grades so low?
Why does my child constantly forget to do assignments?
If you have asked yourself any of the above questions, Executive Function coaching may be a good fit for your child.
Find out more in a FREE Exploration Session.
HOW EXECUTIVE FUNCTION COACHES SUPPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
We assist students in learning about their unique brains and learning styles.
We assist them in becoming independent with daily routines at home and in the classroom.
We coach them on methods to cope with strong emotions such as anger, fear, and frustration, and allow the opportunity to practice those tools.
We coach them on how to get started on work and how to keep going even when it’s challenging.
We assist them in learning methods to stay on task, and teach them tools to sustain attention.
We assist in developing personalized organizational systems for materials and work areas.
We teach them how to chunk larger assignments by breaking them down into smaller more manageable goals.
We coach them on how to effectively prioritize work.
We assist them in gaining self-awareness.
We provide opportunities to develop and utilize self-reflection skills.
We assist and coach them on technology that can improve their productivity and reduce frustration.
We train them on how to efficiently study for and take tests.
We provide opportunities for them to gain insight into what motivates them, setting goals, and utilizing those two things to be more productive.
We show them how to advocate for themselves with their teachers.