When I first started teaching art as a specialist in a special needs high school, I was introduced to the staff as the new art teacher who would not only teach art but also executive functioning skills and life skills. “Wow,” I thought, “how on earth am I going to do that?!” My second thought was, “I have no time for this! Just planning art lessons will be time-consuming enough, and now I have to think about executive functioning skills as well?” My third thought was, “What are those skills anyway? Why haven’t I heard about this before? I’ve been a teacher for over a decade!”

What are Executive Functioning Skills?

I soon discovered that executive functioning skills are cognitive abilities that help us manage our thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve goals. We often take these skills for granted because they typically develop naturally over time as we grow.

Key Executive Functioning Skills

1. Working Memory

Our working memory allows us to hold and manipulate information in our minds over short periods. We use it when following multi-step instructions or doing mental math.

2. Cognitive Flexibility

This enables us to adapt to new situations, switch between tasks, and consider different perspectives. It’s essential for problem-solving and social interactions.

3. Inhibitory Control

This helps us regulate our behavior, resist impulses, and focus on tasks despite distractions. It’s crucial for self-control and attention management.

Additional Executive Functions:

• Planning and prioritizing tasks
• Organizing thoughts and materials
• Time management
• Emotional regulation
• Self-monitoring and self-awareness

Why We Take These Skills for Granted

1. Automatic Development

These skills typically develop naturally during childhood and adolescence, reaching maturity in our mid-20s. Because they evolve gradually, we may not notice their importance.

2. Seamless Integration

Executive functions work behind the scenes, coordinating our thoughts and actions. Their smooth operation often goes unnoticed until we face challenges. Preparing a family dinner is a good example of the integration of skills, from setting the table to cooking the food, coordinating cooking times and serving everything that is on the menu.

3. Individualized Development

People develop these skills at different rates and to varying degrees, making it difficult to recognize when someone is struggling.

4. Cultural Expectations

In many societies, these skills are expected to be present in adults, leading to misunderstandings when individuals struggle with them. For example, struggling with prioritizing a workload in the workplace can be interpreted as laziness or lack of motivation rather than a difficulty with executive functioning skills.

5. Invisible Nature

Unlike physical abilities, executive functions are not directly observable, making it easy to overlook their significance.

Understanding the importance of executive functioning skills can help us appreciate their role in our daily lives and recognize when support or intervention may be needed for those who struggle with these abilities.

Executive Function Hurdles in Special Education

For students with special needs, executive functioning skills can present significant challenges that impact their academic performance, social interactions and daily life. As an educator in a special needs classroom, you’ve likely observed some of these hurdles in your students.

1. Task Engagement and Completion

• Getting Started: Many students struggle to initiate tasks independently.
• Seeing It Through: Finishing assignments within given time frames is often challenging.
• Breaking It Down: Difficulty in dividing larger projects into manageable steps.

2. Organizational Struggles

• Time Troubles: Challenges in managing time and prioritizing activities effectively.
• Keeping Track: Issues with organizing materials, assignments, and personal items.
• Planning Ahead: Difficulty in creating and following through with plans for long-term projects.

3. Attention and Memory Challenges

• Focus Fluctuations: Problems maintaining concentration, especially with distractions present.
• Mental Juggling: Struggles with holding and using information in working memory.
• Instruction Retention: Difficulty following and remembering multi-step directions.

4. Flexibility and Adaptation

• Change Challenges: Trouble adjusting to unexpected alterations in routines or tasks.
• Transition Troubles: Difficulty moving smoothly between different activities.
• Perspective Problems: Struggles in considering alternative viewpoints or solutions.

5. Self-Regulation Issues

• Emotion Management: Challenges in controlling and expressing emotions appropriately.
• Impulse Control: Difficulty in thinking before acting or speaking.

Best Practices for Teaching Executive functioning Skills

Here are 5 simple strategies you can implement in your classroom:

1. Provide a highly structured and predictable environment

• Create clear routines for daily tasks and activities
• Use visual schedules to outline the day’s activities
• Minimize distractions in the classroom

2. Break tasks into very small steps

• Break down activities into their simplest components
• Teach one step at a time
• Gradually increase the number of steps students complete independently

3. Use visual aids and explicit cues

• Incorporate visual supports like pictures, symbols, or objects to represent tasks
• Provide clear, simple verbal instructions for each step
• Use physical prompts or gestures to guide students through tasks

4. Provide immediate and consistent feedback

• Offer positive reinforcement for completed steps and tasks
• Use simple, clear language to redirect when needed

5. Create a calm, supportive environment:

• Establish a quiet area for students who need breaks
• Use a gentle, patient approach when teaching new skills

By implementing these strategies consistently, you can help your students with special needs develop and improve their executive functioning skills over time. Essentially, what we all want is for them to become as independent as possible so that they can navigate life’s challenges with greater independence and less need for constant supervision.  

I created Little Box of Magic, with the intent of crafting a unique approach to art education, going beyond simple creativity exercises. Our art activities are thoughtfully designed to address executive functioning skills while providing students with motivation and a sense of accomplishment.

Our projects target these key executive functioning skills; skills that develop overtime in all children:

• Planning and organization
• Time management
• Task initiation
• Sustained attention

By combining art with executive functioning skill development, we create a supportive environment where students not only create beautiful art but also build essential life skills. We design our activities to spark joy, boost confidence, and help students discover their hidden talents, ultimately leading them to believe in their own capabilities.

Try out our Caribbean Christmas art project!

This Step-by-Step art project combines art with executive functioning skill development! Boost confidence in your students and let them inspire others!

I want to try this art project!