Executive Functioning Tutoring
When students learn executive functioning skills and strategies, their learning experience completely changes!
What are executive functions?
Executive functions (or EF) are the mental skills that help us organize, focus, manage time, plan, and regulate emotions. Executive functioning shows up in all areas of our lives. While some children pick up these skills along the way, many more need to be explicitly taught, one step at a time, across various tasks. EF skills develop all the way into early adulthood!
How does executive functioning affect learning?
Basically, executive functioning skills enable students to follow through and complete tasks. These are the main areas we focus on during tutoring:
Organization
Before we can work on higher level needs, we have to get the "stuff" of school in order. It's amazing how uncluttering physical and digital materials also unclutters the mind and frees it up for the more complex work.
Time & Assignment Management
Some students spend hours on homework that should take 30 minutes, while others rush through in five. We help students visualize time, create productive routines, and break assignments into manageable steps.
Note-Taking & Study Skills
When students know how to take good notes and study effectively, they fully process and retain information. Strategies combine several skills, like listening, prioritizing, summarizing, and focusing. We teach students how to actively (rather than passively) engage with content.
Anxiety, Mindset, & Self-Advocacy
We know students are truly independent when they take ownership of their learning. This happens when they are able to manage anxiety, learn from mistakes, and ask for help. Again, we teach students active strategies to tackle their specific obstacles.
Would my child benefit from EF tutoring?
Probably! We work with students of all ages, learning profiles, and achievement levels. It's very common for parents to feel frustrated when their child "just doesn't get it." A tutor can often get a student on track more easily.
If you find yourself nagging or "over-helping" your child to clean out their book bag, turn in their homework on time, study for tests, or meet with their teachers, they may need direct instruction about how to do these things!
We often work with students who have never struggled in school, but all of a sudden have run into trouble. It's usually because of a challenging class, large workload, or packed schedule. They haven't developed EF skills over the years and are now flailing.
But even if your child is doing okay in school, they can probably benefit from some explicit EF instruction. Students who have practiced EF strategies when school is going well tend to avoid common pitfalls when obstacles arise.
How does executive function tutoring work?
Executive functioning needs look different from child to child, so there's no one-size-fits-all approach or timeline. We also take into consideration how ADHD, anxiety, and/or learning differences may be impacting a child's school life.
Integrated Instruction
We typically choose one or two classes to focus on. Then during each session, we use homework, project work, and upcoming tests to teach executive functioning skills. This authentic practice helps students take ownership of their work and gain independence!
We take a unique approach to executive functioning tutoring in that we incorporate the concept of choice within limits. This means that we involve students directly in the problem solving process. For example, we actually don’t have one set way for students to take their notes or organize their materials. We explore a variety of strategies and help students choose and assess what works best for them.
Session Length & Frequency
Tutors tailor session timing to each child's needs and learning profile.
For example, for an eighth grader focusing on completing and turning in assignments on time, it might be most effective to meet for one-hour sessions twice per week.
Alternatively, for a sophomore learning study skills and self- advocacy strategies, once a week ninety-minute sessions might be the way to go.
Often, students supplement their regular meetings with shorter check-in times once or twice a week to keep on track.
