School-based accommodations that support Executive Function

By Adina Levitt

Given that executive function skills are needed throughout the school day, students who struggle with executive function skills require additional support to successfully navigate a classroom setting. But what might those supports look like? How do you go about getting them? And what accommodations are most effective for a student who struggles with executive dysfunction?

The Testing Process

If you have pervasive concerns about your child’s executive function skills, the first step in the process is to request a neuropsychological evaluation from your school to determine if your child is eligible for a learning plan, such as an IEP or 504, to support their executive function needs. The testing will help shed light on if your child qualifies for any formal diagnosis and/or presents with a relative weakness when it comes to executive functioning. Even if your child is not determined to be eligible for a formal learning plan, an individual conversation with your child’s teacher(s) and/or guidance counselor may prove fruitful in setting up some informal supports to benefit your child. External supports, such as an executive function coaching program, are always a recommended option as well. 

The Role of Individualization

There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to executive function scaffolds. While one student may only need 1 or 2 strategies in a single executive function domain, another student may benefit from supports in a wide array of EF areas. In addition, there is the issue of comorbidity to consider. In other words, a student may present with multiple challenges (ex. Executive function, anxiety, ADHD, etc.) and so the supports offered may need to address various concerns. Therefore, the optimal supports for a child are highly individualized. A conversation between the school, parents, teachers and the student him/herself, as well as use of any testing data, usually yields the best results.

Executive Function Supports

The list that follows outlines a sampling of the strategies that we’ve seen put into place to support student success from an executive function perspective. These are only a sampling of accommodations and depending on your child’s needs, the school can help identify appropriate interventions.

Organization of Materials

• Desk/backpack checks: For students who struggle with keeping their materials organized, a weekly desk/backpack check provides a structured routine and holds them accountable for organizing materials. 
• Organizational checklist: Having a checklist or visual of what their organized materials should look like provides a reference for the student to utilize while also giving them autonomy. 

Mental Organization

• Graphic organizers: Graphic organizers structure information in a visual way to help students identify and organize important material. 

• Teacher notes: Students with executive function challenges are not always able to keep up with the pace of the generalized classroom instruction. It may be beneficial to the student’s learning if they just sit and listen or take limited notes using a teacher-provided framework or outline.
• Use of audiobooks: Audiobooks remove some of the cognitive load from the reading process, allowing students to focus on higher level thinking skills including comprehension and analysis. 

Planning and Time Management

• Calendar with interim deadlines: While teachers may give some form of a calendar or list of deadlines to the whole class, an accommodation may look like a teacher providing a more detailed breakdown of the task at hand. They could also help the student track and put deadlines into a calendar or planner. 
• Teacher conferencing regarding deadlines: A teacher can provide additional check-ins for students who are prone to struggle with deadlines due to executive function deficits. Having more frequent check-ins helps the student stay on top of their work and not get stuck last minute.  

Task initiation 

• Teacher check-ins regarding directions: After a teacher gives directions to the whole class, they can follow up with an individual student to check for understanding. The same scaffold can be put into place for rubrics, as well.
• Breaking work into smaller parts: Students with executive function challenges often struggle to get started on a larger assignment as it feels overwhelming. A teacher can help break down the tasks into smaller pieces to give them a clear path to follow.  
• Speech-to-text or typing: Sometimes the act of writing or typing feels overwhelming and can impede students from getting started with an assignment. Giving them the option of using speech-to-text or typing can allow students to get their ideas onto paper. 

Self-Monitoring 

• Checklists: A checklist can be used for many different scenarios when a student needs to keep track of their progress toward an end goal. An assignment checklist explicitly lists what pieces need to be included in that task. A morning checklist lists the steps needed to ensure all morning responsibilities are complete. 

Working Memory

• Reduce environmental distractions: Students with working memory challenges may struggle to attend to specific stimuli and therefore get distracted. Reducing environmental distractions helps students focus on what’s important. This could be by sitting close to the instruction, using a “focus board” when working on an independent assignment, or listening to music to block out distractions. 

• Visual decluttering: Removing objects in the environment that could be distracting such as toys, gadgets, or even computer tabs and applications all help reduce the temptation for a student to switch their attention away from the task at hand. 
• Use of brain breaks, particularly utilizing movement: Research has shown the positive effects of break breaks on the learning process and specifically memory consolidation. A quick break to do jumping jacks, play Wordle, or work on a coloring page can go a long way. 

These accommodations offer insight into the school-based supports available for students with executive functioning challenges to give them the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. As an advocate for your child, you can help ensure they are getting the support they need.