Australian Literacy Academy - Private English Tutoring Castle Hill and Online

(02) 9191 7336​ 

  • Home
  • Book a Free Assessment
    • Can We Help Your Child?
    • Getting Started with ALA
    • Learner Types
    • Parent Praise
  • At Centre or Online Classes
    • Camp Classes
    • Parent Seminars
    • Teacher Training & In-Services
  • About Us
    • Why Choose Us?
    • Teachers & Co-Founders
    • Online Shop
    • Franchise Opportunities
    • ALA News/Success Blog
  • Contact Us

How Does a Child With Executive Functioning Issues Think Differently? By Liana Chandler (Bach EC, M.T & M. Ed. Sp.)

9/2/2015

0 Comments

 
Executive functioning issues can vary greatly from one child to the next.  That’s why I want to start off by saying that I can’t make any broad generalizations about how children with these issues think. There is no one-size-fits-all explanation.

It’s also important to note that children with executive functioning issues don’t necessarily “think” differently.  What they struggle with is the process of coordinating, prioritising or managing information needed to perform tasks successfully.  Trouble with executive functioning, or executive dysfunction, is often referred to as a “performance disability.”

So even though kids with these issues may be highly intelligent, gifted, artistic, athletic or musically talented, they may struggle to complete seemingly simple tasks like remembering to turn in their homework.

Kids who struggle to start or finish a task may have difficulty with one or more aspects of executive functioning. This is the umbrella term that refers to skill development in the following areas:

  • Planning and prioritising
  • Starting a task (experts often describe this as “initiation”)
  • Controlling impulses (experts call this “inhibition”)
  • Shifting from one activity to the next
  • Controlling emotions
  • Using working memory
  • Organising materials
  • Self-monitoring
To use these skills, kids also need to be able to do things like pay attention and filter out essential from nonessential details.  Some children with executive functioning issues may develop these skills later than their peers do.  Other kids may have ongoing weaknesses.

All of these skills develop differently. They can also vary a great deal depending on a child’s age, degree of difficulties and strengths in other areas.

For example, gifted children in primary school may not feel the need to take notes during class.  Or they may get the right answers in math without needing to “show their work.”  But they may have weaker development in areas like note-taking because they don’t have to rely on those skills until high school or university.

So, to recap: It’s unclear what exactly the psychologist was referring to when she described your son as having a “disorganised mind.”  But regardless of his age or abilities, childhood is full of new learning experiences and requires managing vast amounts of information.

Remember that your child is unique.  Identifying their strengths and weaknesses through a comprehensive evaluation is a good first step toward figuring out how to address their challenges.

Keep in mind that there are many options that can help your child with executive functioning issues. These include classroom accommodations, graphic organisers and apps and other kinds of assistive technology.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About ALA

    The Australian Literacy Academy (ALA) is a private English tutoring centre in Castle Hill, NSW dedicated to helping children of all levels and spectrums reach their full potential in the area of literacy: reading, writing, spelling, comprehension and speaking and listening.

    Archives

    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

About Us
Australian Literacy Academy is a private English tutoring centre dedicated to helping children of all levels and spectrums reach their full potential in the area of literacy: reading, writing, spelling, comprehension and speaking and listening. We provide tutoring at our Castle Hill centre and online
tutoring to children of all ages across Australia.


www.australianliteracyacademy.com.au

Picture
Australian Literacy Academy (ALA)
Private English Tutoring Castle Hill
Unit 12
7 Anella Avenue 
CASTLE HILL NSW 2154 


T:  (02) 9191 7336
E:  enquiries@australianliteracyacademy.com.au






Website & Marketing: Monique Villareal
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.

BACK TO TOP

© 2014 Australian Literacy Academy | All Rights Reserved