Building Executive Functioning Skills

Executive function is “the group of complex mental processes and cognitive abilities that control the skills (such as organizing tasks, remembering details, managing time, and solving problems) required for goal-directed behavior.”

Executive function is regulated by the frontal lobe of the brain—the prefrontal cortex. Because humans are born with brains that are not fully developed, children are not born with these skills - instead they have the potential to develop them.

These skills include:

  • Initiating tasks

  • Evaluating priorities

  • Strengthening working memory

  • Problem solving

  • Organization

  • Flexibility

  • Goal setting

  • Time management

  • Self-control

  • Perseverance

  • Flexibility

At Acton Academy Columbus, we help our learners develop these Executive Functioning skills through regular project-based practice.

During our first Quest of the year, our young heroes worked on numerous one-day and multi-day team projects. One example was the design and development of a city. After finalizing their design work, project managers broke the needed work into various tasks. They then oversaw their teams to complete the work.

Our learners also work on other EF skills daily including setting goals daily.

Executive functioning skills are critical skills for the 21st century. These skills must be practiced and are the basis for all transferable skills - regardless of whatever we’re working on.

Images from our first session of the year where learners worked on their 3 R’s as well as their 4 C’s (Critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity) and executive functioning skills.


Varun Bhatia