Executive Functioning Skills
Programme Objectives
Executive Functioning (EF) skills are a set of skills which guides our thoughts and behaviour to achieve goals. These skills underlie the capacity to plan ahead to meet goals, display self-control, follow multiple-step directions, even when interrupted. These are the skills needed to get things done successfully in our day-to-day or long term tasks.
These skills are important to our students as they constantly need to remember instructions, complete a task without being distracted and adapt to changes. Research has shown that when children have opportunities to develop EF skills, they experience lifelong benefits as these skills are crucial for learning and development towards adulthood. EF skills also encourage positive behaviour and allow students to make healthy choices for themselves.
Overview
At Lakeside Primary School, EF skills are introduced and practised at every level to equip students with these skills that are crucial for learning and development. At least 2 skills are taught at each level at the beginning of each semester. These skills are inculcated during lessons, CCAs and other teachable moments in their primary school journey.
The table below shows the EF skills that we introduce to our students and an example of the accompanying guiding questions students can use. More information can be found on Pg 16 and 17 of our Student Handbook.
| EF Skills | Explanation | Guiding Questions |
| Sustained Attention | Concentrate without being distracted | How can I stay focused? |
| Task Initiation | Begin task in a timely fashion | How do I stop procrastinating? |
| Organisation | Create and maintain a system to learn effectively | How can I best get my work done? |
| Emotional Control | Recognise and regulate emotions to achieve goals | How do I feel/How can I feel better? |
| Response Inhibition | Capacity to stop, evaluate and think before you act/respond | How should I react? |
| Planning | Create a schedule and prioritise for task completion | How can I achieve my goal? |
| Time Management | Estimate and use time effectively | How can I use my time wisely? |
| Flexibility | Ability to revise a plan and adapt to changes | How can I do it differently? |
| Metacognition | Ability to self-monitor and self-evaluate | How well did I learn? |
| Working Memory | Hold information and past experiences | How can I retain the information? |
| Goal Directed Persistence | Working towards a goal | How can I keep myself going? |
We have also come up with some mascots to help our students better remember the various EF skills!
Do watch the video to get to know our mascots!