During our Executive Function series, we’ve been discussing how students and young children struggle with what may be considered fundamental abilities. Task initiation, planning, and time management are skills used on a daily basis in both our personal and professional lives.
But when a young adult struggles with one of these executive function skills, anxiety kicks in, and they start doubting their own competency, therefore impacting their self-esteem.
It makes them feel angry, powerless, and depressed.
What are the signs?
A student struggling with a lack of confidence usually cannot meet the day-to-day requirements of school, resulting in anxiety and frustration. They can seem organized on the outside, they know what needs to be done, and when it needs to be completed. But when it comes to executing, their minds get confused, and they cannot deliver.
It is like having a mile-long list of things to do. You spend so much time staring at it, trying to decide where to start, and feeling overwhelmed. Then the end of the day comes, and you’ve accomplished nothing. When this happens, the first thing that comes to their mind is that they cannot do it. They immediately believe they are not capable.
Now, it is crucial to really connect with the student and give them the opportunity to explain what is happening inside their head. To validate their feelings and let them know we want to help them understand why they feel overwhelmed.
At Wright Academics, our coaches are prepared to make this connection happen. The right coach is able to explain in detail the executive function subsets to the student so they can identify in which area they specifically struggle. This is the most critical part. Allowing the student to recognize on his own this is a skill they can learn to develop, is the first step to boosting their confidence back up.
How do we help them boost their confidence?
- Don’t compare one student to another. Not everyone will struggle with the same subset, and not every approach works.
- Praise and acknowledge accomplishments no matter how small. Every little win counts.
- Create realistic expectations. Setting personal goals catering to their specific strength and needs.
- Embrace a growth mindset. Improving is the main goal, the pace is not important.
This is one of the most essential aspects of Executive Function skills, and often one that gets overlooked. To trust our abilities, knowledge, and aptitudes is the key to overcoming any obstacle we might encounter along the way. Helping a student or young child develop the necessary skills to identify in which areas they struggle and how to improve is our goal at Wright Academics.
If you want to learn more about our tutoring process and our services with coaching Executive Function Skills, check out our blog series HERE and stay tuned because there is more coming your way!
If you are interested in our 1:1 tutoring session, please reach out! We would love to help! You can contact us here: Contact us.
With love,
Ev.