Homeschooling can be an excellent way to help a child with executive functioning issues develop and overcome their disorder. There are eight key executive functions: Impulse control, Emotional Control, Flexible Thinking, Working Memory, Self-Monitoring, Planning and Prioritizing, Task Initiation, and Organization. These skills enable children to plan, organize, initiate, sustain focus, regulate emotions, and exercise self-control.
To help children with executive functioning issues, it is essential to identify the issues and train the brain to develop those skills. There are eight key executive functions: Impulse control, Emotional Control, Flexible Thinking, Working Memory, Self-Monitoring, Planning and Prioritizing, Task Initiation, and Organization.
Response inhibition is a common issue in children with executive functioning disorders, as they may make careless mistakes or give up easily. To address this, it is important to integrate executive function strategies into academic tasks and everyday activities when homeschooling.
Emotional well-being plays a significant role in developing executive function skills, and homeschooling allows families to provide individual emotional support to their children. Breaking tasks into smaller steps and teaching executive function strategies within academic tasks can help children manage time and manage tasks effectively.
In homeschooling, it is crucial to teach students to categorize activities into “have-to’s, want-to’s, and hope-to’s” to help them organize their tasks. Providing checklists and therapy can also help children with executive functioning issues get more organized.
In summary, homeschooling can be an excellent way to help children with executive functioning issues develop and overcome their disorder by providing direct support and guidance. By incorporating executive function strategies into academic tasks and everyday activities, families can help their children develop the necessary skills to manage and overcome their executive dysfunction.
📹 Failing at Executive Function || ADHD & Homeschooling
ADHD & Homeschooling. If you you have ADHD you might notice you have a struggle to prioritize things even when you know …
How to study if you have executive dysfunction?
Taking a test can be a daunting task for students struggling with executive functioning. To prepare for a big exam, six study tips can be followed:
Make a plan: Organize everything needed to achieve goals. Ask teachers about the exam format and use a planner to plan studying time. Hold yourself accountable and have self-discipline. Set aside time for each class and meet with the teacher during their free time.
Re-write your notes: Use notes to preview the information for the test. Reading through your notes and marking unsure terms, formulas, or problems allows you to know which topics to revisit and spend more time on. Read aloud over and over again until you can memorize the card.
Multisensory tactics can also be helpful for students with executive functioning difficulties. Use sight, hearing, and tactile senses to your advantage and use multisensory techniques to help you memorize the material.
In summary, these study tips can help students with executive functioning difficulties prepare for exams by organizing their tasks, using flashcards, reviewing old quizzes and tests, and creating their own review packet.
Can you grow out of executive function disorder?
Executive function, also known as the brain’s management system, is typically developed in children between the ages of 18 and 20. However, those with ADHD often struggle with these skills, taking about three years longer than their peers to develop. Research indicates that children with ADHD often have more difficulty with executive function skills than their peers. While executive function skills eventually mature by their early to mid-20s, this delay can be frustrating and make daily life more challenging. In summary, research on executive function challenges primarily comes from studies of children with ADHD, who often have more difficulty with these skills than their peers.
How to help students who struggle with executive functioning?
Charrell Coleman, an author, blog content creator, educator, and presenter of Student Engagement and Executive Functioning Matters, offers seven strategies for students struggling with executive functioning. These strategies include one-on-one instruction after group or whole group lessons, guided practice as you teach the lesson, starting homework in class for students to ask questions, and using a project planning form for long-term projects.
These strategies help students get tasks done and work through their day, ultimately improving their performance in various classes. Coleman emphasizes that addressing learning or behavior issues in elementary school can only worsen at the secondary level.
How to help a child with poor executive function?
To help children develop executive functioning, visual supports like cue cards, white boards, and checklists can be used. Flow charts can help break down tasks and identify the first step, while timers, calendars, and technologies like online task lists or reminders can be used. As children age, they develop the ability to work through problems and use complex, multi-step processes to reach goals. These skills are part of the executive functioning skill set, which includes a set of brain functions that help regulate behavior and meet goals.
There are eight executive functioning skills, including staying seated at a desk for a specific amount of time and following multi-step directions to complete tasks. Some children, including those with developmental delays or disabilities, may encounter more difficulties in learning these skills.
What is a natural supplement for executive function?
Vitamin B is an essential vitamin that plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy nervous and digestive systems, metabolic functions, attention, and executive functioning. It is often used to reduce fatigue, boost mood, and improve attention symptoms. There are several types of B vitamins, each supporting the brain and body differently. B-6 – Pyridoxine helps the body manufacture neurotransmitters like serotonin, which is critical for attention. Studies have shown that combining magnesium and vitamin B6 improves behavior, decreases anxiety and aggression, and improves mobility in children with ADHD.
B vitamins include Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenate, Pyridoxine, Folate, and Cobalamin. Many individuals take a B complex containing all B vitamins, making Vitamin B supplements a useful tool for controlling obnoxious behavior in children.
How to help someone who lacks executive function?
It is of the utmost importance to maintain a warm, understanding, and assertive approach. It is essential to provide prompt assistance with tasks, whether visual or verbal, in accordance with the individual’s capabilities. The tasks should be broken down into discrete, manageable steps.
How to do homework with executive dysfunction?
Homework is a common issue for children with poor executive functioning, who struggle with organizing, planning, managing time, and initiating tasks. To ease the frustration of homework, implement these five strategies:
Create a designated, distraction-free space for your child to do homework every day. Keep this space close to you, such as a desk or dining room table, to monitor their attention. Keep all necessary tools like pencils, erasers, paper, pens, and calculators handy to keep them focused.
Designate a time for homework. Make it a priority by posting a weekly calendar of after-school activities with homework scheduled in it. This helps your child stick to the committed time and ensures that both you and your child are on the same page.
Use a timer to help manage homework time. Set a timer for each task and make it a priority to ensure your child completes their homework on time.
By implementing these strategies, you can help your child overcome homework struggles and improve their overall academic performance.
What is the best treatment for executive function disorder?
Executive dysfunction can be treated with various medications, including stimulants, antidepressants, and antipsychotics, as well as psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Treatment can involve therapy alone or in combination with medication. Brain damage and degenerative disease treatments can vary, with some conditions improving on their own without treatment. However, some conditions are not treatable. Healthcare providers can provide information on available treatments and expected results.
Self-diagnosis and treatment of executive dysfunction are not possible, so it is essential to consult a healthcare provider if symptoms are suspected. They can offer treatment recommendations, such as medication, or suggest providers who can help with other treatment options. It is crucial to consult a healthcare provider for personalized care and treatment options.
Does Adderall help executive function?
ADHD medication, including stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin, can improve executive function in children. A 2022 study found short-term improvement in executive function in children with ADHD, but no continued improvement at a 2-year follow-up. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may also improve executive function by replacing unhelpful thinking patterns with more positive ones, helping individuals reach their goals.
Is executive function a form of autism?
The Autism Awareness Centre reports that up to 80 percent of individuals with autism suffer from executive function disorder, which persists into adulthood. These difficulties are similar to those found in younger individuals, with issues with flexibility, planning, and organization being the most significant. However, these difficulties can present differently from one individual to another, making it difficult to complete everyday tasks.
The relationship between executive dysfunction and behavioral symptoms in autism is a topic of great interest among researchers, as individuals with autism spectrum disorders often show impairments across a range of cognitive tasks. Therefore, researchers often view executive dysfunction as a central feature of autism.
Does lack of dopamine cause executive dysfunction?
Research indicates that executive functions in ADHD are primarily influenced by dopamine and norepinephrine, two neurotransmitter chemicals. Over 200 well-controlled studies have shown that stimulants effectively alleviate symptoms in 70-80% of those diagnosed with ADHD. These medications facilitate the release and inhibition of dopamine and norepinephrine at neural synapses of crucial executive functions. Improvements can be seen within 30-60 minutes after an effective dose is administered, and when the medication has worn off, ADHD symptoms typically reappear at their former level.
📹 Executive Function Disorder Defined | Special Education Decoded
The world of special education wasn’t designed to be EASY for us “normal parents” to understand… Just when you thought you …
First off, love your haircut, mama. Ok, going back to listening. I’m going to comment piecemeal as I listen. I definitely relate to over-purchasing curriculum as a result of my own inattentive ADHD and squirrelly shift in attention. I’m trying to embrace relationship over correction. It’s a hard thing when our kids’ weaknesses reflect our own – the worry and frustration magnified in the moment. I am going to try a simple check off list for G9’s work – I think the complicated planner pages with a week spread are just stressing him out. Thanks for your honest encouragement, Trish.
Eleven minutes in and I am telling you that this is why I blew up at my son this week. You are putting in a lot of work for your kiddo, as am I. We have been dealing with his executive function disorder and ADHD all year long (he’s in 9th). So all of this work that I have been doing and then the other day he did not get his work done because he decided to spend his day chatting with his friend online. I felt like all the work I did was unappreciated. I understand that it is his ADHD, so I almost blame myself for not having him right next to me all the time but still….
Thanks Trish! You have been such a blessing to me as I work my way through this homeschooling journey with so many littles. After perusal this I think my oldest daughter may have adhd. She is in third grade and still struggles with math facts. I dropped her down to mus alpha and it’s helping some but still not sticking completely. It can be so discouraging because I feel like it’s me not doing enough for her. Reading has also not come naturally but is progressing as well. She is very much a daydreamer and very creative so that is part of my struggle to get her focused.
This was so helpful. My daughter is undiagnosed but I have found sitting with her helps tremendously. She struggles so hard with getting school done. With science I have found if I read it and she listens for things we should highlight so she can write it down in a notebook. It’s worked so well for us. Thank you for some ideas. I’d love more on this topic if you get a chance.
Modeling, AKA a body double is huge. For years I thought I was odd because I needed this and didn’t understand why. It’s estimated that kids with ADHD have an “Executive function age” 30% lower than their physical age. If you’ve never read Grace Under Pressure blog, you need to check her out. She’s got great resources on this. She also runs a Facebook group for ADHD mamas who homeschool and another one for parents homeschooling ADHD kids.
Before we bought the house last year, I was able to spend most of the day sitting with Danielle and devoting my full attention to her. We sat at seperate desks beside each other, or I’d sit by her at her desk, and I could help her keep focus and model for her. It’s been a real challenge getting anything done since I’ve been running the daycare mixed with her inability to stay on task. When we are able to squeeze a good lesson in, I model for her until she seems capable to complete some work on her own, but once she goes to her room to “finish” the last few questions or problems, it might take days for her to get the work done, even after a lot of reminding / nagging her. It has been very frustrating, because I know she can do the work, just can not keep focused to get it done without me beside her.
Fourteen minutes in. I have told my son that if he is getting overwhelmed or just starting to lose focus, that he can get up and go do something else. What ends up happening is that he will start and stop (and not finish) several assignments or he will go and play outside for a bit and then come back, start something else and forget about what he was doing that caused him to need to take a break.
How do you know it is an executive function issue rather than an age issue? My daughter is nearly 8 and I have assumed it was an age/stage thing but it isn’t getting much better. She has times when she works well on her own (10 minute blocks), but when it comes to math and her room and loosing things, it is horrendous. I’ve been hoping she will develop the right mindset to her tasks as she gets older, but now I’m worried this may just be her.
How I wish that I saw this article years ago. Due to my health conditions, I have a slow brain development, and I recently was tested on the neurophsyc indicating that I have this executive functioning problem. But, now I’m 21, and as I go through the process of college, I can’t really link the learned material to the exams I’m given. Is CBT only supposed to help with converting your negative thoughts into positive one’s or do they help a lot more than that? I’m really disappointed with my doctor. She didn’t really provide me with anything related to special education. I was only provided with one accommodation to try something new, but the school denied it, and now all she said is that I should just be happy about starting the semester. I’m like how do you want me to feel that way if I’ not provided with something new to help me succeed? I really feel like my needs fall within finding special education. I’ve never passed an exam throughout school, so let’s not mention college where most majors require a 3.0 GPA. I’ve never had that before. Where do you think I could find some kind of special education help?