1. Executive Function…. Or Dysfunction
Executive Function…. Or Dysfunction? “Johnny is lazy” “Mary is not motivated” “Sally doesn’t care” “Tommy just doesn’t listen”

2. What is this anyway?
Executive function is a set of mental processes that helps connect past experience with present action. People use it to perform activities such as planning, organizing, strategizing, paying attention to and remembering details, and managing time and space.

3. Motivation Problem or Hidden Disability
Weakness in the executive functioning area is also often associated with an attention deficit disorder (ADHD with or without hyperactivity).
As with a learning disability, it is generally unclear if the apparent breakdown of executive functioning is actually the cause or the effect of the attentional difficulties.  

4. How do Executive Functioning Skills help us to learn?
Make plans
Keep track of time and finish work on time
Keep track of more than one thing at once
Meaningfully include past knowledge in discussions
Evaluate ideas and reflect on our work
Change our minds and make mid-course corrections while thinking, reading, and writing
Ask for help or seek more information when we need it
Engage in group dynamics
Wait to speak until we're called on

5. What Are the Warning Signs of Executive Function Problems?
Difficulty planning projects
Unable to comprehend how much time a project will take to complete such as time management
Difficulty telling stories (verbally or in writing), struggling to communicate details in an organized, sequential manner
Unable to memorize and retrieve information from memory
Inability to initiate activities or tasks, or to generate ideas independently
Unable to complete homework
Written expression deficits
Impaired working memory

6. ADHD and Executive Dysfunction
Impaired handwriting
Impaired coordination
Difficulty copying from the board
Accident/injury prone
Behavior and peer problems
Impaired working memory
Makes careless errors

7. Case Study

8. Strategies checklists “how to” lists
breaking long assignments into chunks
visual calendars
time organizers
mnemonics

9. “SUCCEEDING IN SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE MOST THERAPUTIC THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO A CHILD! SO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO HELP THE CHILD SUCCEED IN SCHOOL.” Chris Zeigler Dendy

10. Resources http://www.cec.sped.org/ www.ldonline.org