Executive Functions

Executive Functions are housed in the prefrontal cortex of your brain. They help us to manage thoughts, feelings and behaviours and they help us get things done.

There are eleven executive functions that we are focussing on:

• Working memory – how we process information
• Emotional control – how we manage our feelings
• Cognitive Flexibility – how we think about things in different ways
• Task Initiation – how we start a task
• Metacognition – how we think about thinking
• Goal-Directed Persistence – how we stick to something and make sure it is completed
• Response Inhibition – how we manage our feelings and actions appropriately
• Time Management – how we allocate our time effectively
• Organisation – how we arrange and organise our physical and mental environments
• Sustained Attention – how we pay attention or stay on track despite distractions, fatigue or boredom

 

We are better at some executive functions than others as we all have strengths and weaknesses. Our brain is malleable – this means that we can keep on building on and developing our executive functions each day. To help us do this in school, we have our Learning Powers characters.

Our Learning Powers:

Izzy’s Powers I am great at starting tasks. I can work independently. I am good at organising. Executive Functions Task Initiation Organisation
Raheem’s Powers I can reflect on my actions and decisions. I think before saying or doing. I learn to manage my emotions. Executive Functions Emotional Control Response Inhibition Metacognition
Chloe’s Powers I am best at showing curiosity. I hold information in my head as I am being curious. I apply new learning to previous knowledge. Executive Functions Working Memory
Peter’s Powers I can concentrate on a task. I can keep trying, even if something is difficult. Executive Functions Sustained attention Goal-directed persistence
Chu’s Powers I can concentrate on a task. I can keep trying, even if something is difficult. Executive Functions Time Management Planning and prioritising
Pedro’s Powers I can think about problems in a different way. I can adjust how I look at or see a situation. Executive Functions Cognitive Flexibility