Executive functioning is the mental process that helps us plan, focus, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. When a student struggles with executive functioning, it can significantly impact many areas of life—including reading.
Key executive functioning skills include:
- Working Memory: Holding and manipulating information in mind while reading or following instructions.
- Planning and Prioritizing: Setting goals, making plans, and determining the steps needed to complete a reading assignment.
- Task Initiation: Starting reading tasks promptly, rather than procrastinating or feeling overwhelmed.
- Time Management: Allocating enough time to read, comprehend, and complete assignments.
- Organization: Keeping track of reading materials, notes, and assignments.
- Flexible Thinking: Adapting to new vocabulary, genres, or reading strategies when faced with challenges.
- Self-Monitoring: Assessing one’s own understanding and adjusting strategies when comprehension breaks down.
When students struggle with any of these executive functioning skills, reading can become especially challenging. For example, weak working memory may make it hard to follow complex sentences or remember what happened earlier in a story. Poor organization or time management can lead to missed assignments or rushed reading, while difficulties with flexible thinking can make it tough to adjust to new types of texts.
Common Reading Struggles Tied to Executive Function
Many older students report not having enough "time" to complete reading assignments. Some read entire chapters only to realize they have no idea what they just read. Discouraged, they often don't go back to reread, assuming it would just happen again. Others feel overwhelmed just looking at the text, lacking the confidence or motivation to begin at all.
Unfortunately, by the time students reach middle or high school, it’s often assumed they already possess strong executive functioning skills. Educators expect them to know how to break down assignments, pace themselves, and monitor their comprehension. But when these skills haven’t been explicitly taught, students are left feeling unsuccessful—and may write off reading as a waste of time.
Strengthening Executive Function to Support Reading
To help students become stronger readers, we need to identify the executive functioning skill that’s most impeding their progress and target it directly. This can be tricky—many executive functioning skills are intertwined—but starting somewhere is better than doing nothing. One helpful strategy is to have students complete an executive functioning self-assessment to pinpoint areas for growth.
Once a primary skill is identified, focused instruction can make a meaningful difference. For example, if a high school student reports that they read entire chapters without understanding them, we can start by teaching self-monitoring strategies:
- Start Small: Have the student read one paragraph at a time.
- Check for Understanding: After each paragraph, they should ask themselves, "What did I just read?" and answer in a few words.
- Record the Thought: They can jot down those key words or sketch a quick visual representation.
- Reread if Needed: If they can’t summarize, they reread the paragraph and try again.
- Build Stamina: As comprehension improves, gradually increase the length of text before stopping to reflect.
Over time, the student can use their brief notes or sketches to summarize the entire chapter. This method strengthens working memory and helps organize thoughts for discussions or written responses.
Executive Functioning Is a Foundation for Success
Executive functioning skills are deeply interconnected—strengthening one often leads to growth in others. As students build confidence in a single area, they become more equipped and motivated to tackle new challenges. The key is to provide ongoing, intentional support and to recognize that these skills are just as vital as content knowledge, particularly for older students who may have fallen through the cracks.
By prioritizing executive functioning alongside reading instruction, we empower students not only to become stronger readers, but also more effective, independent learners. Investing in these foundational skills sets students up for success in the classroom and beyond.
Looking for graphic organizers to support executive functioning with your striving readers? Check out our Educator Toolkit!