51萝莉

Why Executive Function Skills? Why Now?

Over the past year, each of us鈥擡llen as a researcher, Andrew as a superintendent鈥攈ave spoken to hundreds of parents, educators, students and school boards鈥攕panning the early childhood and teen years. They鈥檙e saying that the crises in learning and thriving among children and youth are becoming more apparent and more urgent.

In their words:

• Technology brings the world into kids鈥� pockets 鈥攂ut also constant distraction.
• AI is transforming work, learning, and identity鈥攆aster than we can keep up.
• Many students feel disengaged and overwhelmed.
• Mental health concerns and the lack of self-regulation in students are unlike anything we鈥檝e seen before
• Schools are microcosms of our nation鈥檚 issues鈥攆aced with fears for students鈥� safety and polarization

These aren鈥檛 isolated challenges. They intersect and intensify one another. What鈥檚 needed is not another one-off program or short-term fix, but a unifying approach that helps children and adults build the skills they need to navigate this reality.

That鈥檚 where executive function skills come in.

A Quiet Consensus, a Powerful Opportunity

Across the country鈥攊n red states, blue states, and everywhere in between鈥攅ducators and communities are redefining what it means to prepare students for the future.

Tim Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching sees it in Portrait of a Graduate statements from over 20 states.

Despite regional and political differences, he describes a 鈥渞emarkable American consensus鈥� around the broader skills students need: communication, critical thinking, creativity, persistence, and collaboration.

These aren鈥檛 just buzzwords. They鈥檙e grounded in the science of brain development鈥攁nd closely linked to executive function.

We see this as a call-to-action.

It鈥檚 a Call-to-Action from Students

When Ellen speaks at schools, she gives students index cards to write down what they want to know about their own development. They write about feeling unready for the uncertainties of life and they yearn for ways to address them.

"How can I develop a better mindset and outlook on life? What will be fulfilling for me as I get older?"
鈥�17-测别补谤-辞濒诲

Similarly, a poll conducted by the finds that only 51% of Gen Z鈥檈rs feel prepared for their future.

It鈥檚 a Call About Younger Children Too

We hear this when educators talk about younger children:

The number one issue for teachers today is challenging behavior. The skills for regulating behavior and for learning how to learn are developing in the early years. We need to help children develop these skills when the time is ripe for developing them.
鈥擡arly Childhood Educator

The ability to manage emotions, follow instructions, and shift attention isn鈥檛 just about behavior鈥攊t鈥檚 the foundation for learning.

It's a Call Coming from Employers

In making hiring decisions, show that employers have moved away from grades and toward specific skills and competencies, like problem-solving, ability to work in teams, communication (written and verbal), strong work ethic, and flexibility/adaptability.

It鈥檚 a Call for Adults in Their Own Lives, Too

From educators we hear:

I have been in education for years, but it鈥檚 never been as difficult as it is today. Now that I am beginning to understand what executive function skills are, I see that I need them in most everything I do.
鈥擲chool Superintendent

And from parents:

It鈥檚 not the world I grew up in.

We Have Talked About Skills for Years. Why is This Different?

Yes, we鈥檝e talked about 21st Century Skills, Durable Skills and the Six Cs, but this call-to-action is different because the skills we鈥檙e talking about are based on the science of brain development.

Studies show that brain-based executive function skills underlie success in learning, achievement, and life. Adele Diamond and Daphne Ling of the University of British Columbia have reviewed the impact of interventions to improve executive function skills and found that they are鈥�

鈥溾��predictive of achievement, health, wealth, and quality of life throughout life, often more so than IQ or socioeconomic status.鈥�

Both the early childhood years and the adolescent years are periods of , meaning prime time for these essential skills to .

Applying Executive Function: Practical Tools You Can Use

51萝莉鈥檚 newly announced 鈥溾�� includes 鈥淭he New Basics鈥擱eal Skills for Real Life鈥� as one of its five tenets in the action framework.

John Malloy, Assistant Executive Director at 51萝莉 states the importance of these skills: "Executive function skills are the glue and the foundation for our student and staff success.鈥�

This bears repeating. Executive functions skills are foundational to both students鈥� and adults鈥� success, helping us all take on the challenges and uncertainties of our times.

51萝莉鈥檚 upcoming Real Skills for Real Life Summit (October 8-10 in Washington, DC) will offer practical strategies, tools, and research-based approaches to support the development of executive function skills at all ages. Plus, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the all-star group of researchers and educators behind them.

But We Already Have Too Much To Do. How Can We Add Another Thing to Our To-Do Lists?

We know that! We are educators and we know that we don鈥檛 need another 鈥渞ock in our knapsacks of things to-do鈥�. That鈥檚 why this Summit will show you how to look at what you are doing with 鈥渟kill-building glasses,鈥� so you can promote these skills in everyday ways, in everyday moments with both adults and children.

Change is our only constant in this world, and these skills provide a strong foundation for thriving in an ever-changing environment.

Learn more about the Real Skills for Real Life Summit on Executive Functions here.