Executive Functioning Skills

Recess

100

You were planning to play ga ga ball with your friend but they don't want to play anymore.  You decide to be a good friend, change your plans and find an activity you both like. 

What is flexible thinking?

200

Someone pushes you in line by accident and you fall over.  You bumped your elbow and it hurts really bad, your mad.  You take a deep breath and tell yourself it was accident.  

What is emotional control?

300

You want to build a snowman and decide you will need three snowballs.  You decide to make the largest snowball first, then the middle snowball and lastly the smallest snowball for the head.  You decide you will get the eyes, nose and mouth pieces after making the snowman's body.  

What is planning?

Independent Work

100

It is silent reading time and you can sit where ever you want as long as you remain silent.  You sit next to your friends but are having a hard time remaining silent, you keep talking with them.  You notice it is not going well and decide to move to a different place.  

What is self checking or self monitoring?

200

You are in art class and have a lot of materials on your desk for a project.  Before you get started you move the materials around so it looks neat. 

What is organization?

300

You are given an assignment to write about what you are going to do over holiday break.  You aren't sure where to start but instead of avoiding the work by talking with friends, sharpening your pencil or going to the bathroom you decide to make a list of the things you want to do over break.   

What is task initiation? 

Instruction

100

The teacher is talking to the whole class about all the different kinds of rocks.  You are kind of bored and want to tell the whole class "this is boring!"  You stop and think - I will get in trouble and that is not very nice to do to the teacher. 

What is impulse control? 

200

The teacher is talking to the class about animals and you start thinking about your dog that died a month ago.  You get really sad and want to just put your head down and stop listening.  You decide to take a quick break instead and ask to get a drink of water.  

What is emotional control?

Group Work

100

The class is given directions to fill out a worksheet as a group.  You want to chat and have fun with your group members but instead you start working on the assignment after directions are given. 

What is task initiation? 

200

You are having  a discussion about a book as a group.  The other students keep talking over you.  You want to tell them they are being mean.  You stop and think, they probably aren't doing it on purpose and are just excited to talk.  I'll ask for a turn to talk instead.  

What is impulse control? 

300

You are working in a group and everyone has a job.  Your job is to write down answers for the group.  Everyone is talking really fast and it's hard to keep up.  You're getting frustrated, you are not someone who can write as fast as your classmates and it's not going well.  You decide to ask if someone else can switch jobs with you to something that is a better fit.   

What is self checking or self monitoring?