Toronto Tutoring Alliance

What is executive functioning?

Executive functioning refers to the cognitive processes that help us plan, organize, and manage our time and resources in order to achieve our goals.  Executive functioning skills are so important that they are better predictors of success in academics and in life than test scores, IQ, or socioeconomic status. It’s like a personal air traffic control system in our brains that helps us prioritize tasks, make decisions, stay focused despite distractions, and control impulses.  

No one is born with executive function skills, but they are learned when provided with the right experiences, direct instruction, and explicit support. While these skills develop most rapidly between ages 3-5, another spike follows during adolescence and early adulthood.  Research suggests that cultivating these skills should be a priority through elementary, high school, as well as college and university. Students with ADHD, in particular, will benefit tremendously from extra coaching and support.

Our tutors help students develop executive function skills

While some students come to us with the specific goal of improving their executive function skills, our tutors incorporate executive skill coaching into every subject. The following strategies are just some of the ways in which we support executive functioning in our students:

 

1. 1. Building focus and attention span. Due to the one-on-one nature of tutoring, each session provides a unique opportunity for students to practice and develop sustained focus and attention. 

1. 1. Teaching organization skills. We meet students where they are and teach them how to keep track of their assignments and materials, take notes in class, study, plan and prioritize their time, and effectively use tools such as calendars and to-do lists.

1. 1. Modelling good executive functioning. By breaking down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps and creating clear agendas and schedules, our tutors demonstrate good planning and organization skills.

1. 1. Using visual aids. By adapting to each learner’s comprehension style and using visual aids such as graphic organizers, flowcharts, and diagrams, our tutors help students organize and understand information.

1. 1. Encouraging active engagement. Our tutors are committed to keeping students engaged throughout each lesson through discussions and activities that help your student practice their decision-making and problem-solving skills.

1. 1. Providing routine. Regularly scheduled tutoring sessions provide students with a reliable routine and a growth-oriented activity to support them in achieving their goals.

1. 1. Diet, sleep and exercise. A healthy diet, adequate sleep, and physical activity are all part of a healthy lifestyle and support optimal brain and executive function development. 

Executive functioning skills don’t come naturally to everyone and take time and practice to cultivate. But making the effort to develop these core competencies is one of the most important ways that parents can help their students grow into healthier, happier, and more successful adults. 

We welcome the opportunity to discuss how our services would benefit your family.