E.F. Skill Definitions (1)
The ability to develop and maintain a system to keep things neat and orderly (such as a schedule or your materials).
What is Organization?
This verb means to figure and lay out HOW to accomplish a goal, journey, or project before you start it.
What is Planning?
Our brain is not fully focused until what age (because executive function skills are still forming)?
Ages 25-30
This is the term for a visual chart that shows dates, times, or seasons.
Using this type of device to set alarms or reminders is a great tool because almost everyone owns one.
What is a SmartPhone / iPhone or cell phone?
This management skill involves 1) knowing how long a task will take 2) setting aside the correct amount of time to do the task, and 3) using that time well so you get the task done on time.
What is Time Management?
The ability to adapt to new situations quickly, and deal with those changes well.
What is Flexibility?
What is a term for using a regular and repeated action pattern to remind you to do something consistently (like taking your medications every morning?)
What is a schedule, routine, or habit? (Routines help you create habits. Habits require less mental energy to perform)
This is another word for doing two things at once.
What is Multitasking? Many people believe they can divide their attention between two things at once, however research shows our brain is actually switching back and forth between tasks.
This is a term for machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making (ChatGPT is an example of one).
What is A.I.?
This term refers to the mental ability to hold information in our minds WHILE we work to complete a task or situation.
What is Working Memory?
This is the official term for to being able to start or begin a task by yourself, when you need to start it.
What is Task Initiation?
S.M.A.R.T. goals (or SMART) is an acronym used as a mnemonic device to establish criteria for effective goal-setting and objective development. Name one of what the letters stand for.
Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
This paper-based tool helps someone be more successful with Executive Function because it can improve organization and writing things down helps us to remember them.
What is a planner or notebook?
The term for the types of phone or computer programs that are small, mostly cost between FREE and $9.99, and may help you improve your Executive Function skills (Evernote is an example of one).
What are apps (applications)?
This term refers to the ability to suppress or prevent unwanted or inappropriate actions, thoughts, or emotions.
Response Inhibition
The ability to focus on a person, task, or situation for the appropriate amount of time, and shifting that focus to a new task when needed. (Hint: we often can do this much better when we find the task to be fun.)
What is Attention?
What lobe of the brain controls executive functioning?
Frontal lobe
This type of writing utensil helps us see important phrases more quickly, and can be especially helpful in figuring out the main idea in large chunks of text.
What is a highlighter?
This type of electronic document allows you to color-code specific information, edit it, or even write directly onto it without having to print it out.
What is a PDF (portable document format)?
This is the ability to stick with a task, project, or situation without giving up (even when it's hard or boring).
What is Goal Persistence?
This term literally means "Beyond Knowledge." It refers to being aware of what you know, and using that info about yourself to help you plan, complete, and learn tasks.
What is Metacognition?
DAILY DOUBLE! Say the alphabet backwards.
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A type of tool, found on a phone or IRL, that can help us manage our time by counting down. (Hint: not a clock, but some desktop versions look like one.)
What is a timer?
You want to write something, but you know spelling is very difficult for you. What is a digital tool you could use to help you complete the writing task?
Spell check, or speech-to-text/voice-to-text