Executive Functioning:

Advanced Assessment and

Interpretation

Scott Crooks, NCSP, S.S.P.

Julie Hylton, Psy.D.
Nathan T. Dickerson, Ed.S.
Elissa Clair, NCSP, M.Ed. Ed.S.
Joanna M. Sinha, M.Ed., Ph.D.
Presenters
Agenda
• Executive Functioning is...
• Red Flags
• Assessments
• Executive Functions How To
o What it is
o What it looks like
o What measures it
o What an intervention might be
o SMART goal sample
• Questions on parking lot, future directions
Outcomes and material availability
The outcome will be to increase knowledge of
available tools to assess executive
functioning and how to effectively respond to
identified deficits

Materials will be available at:

bit.ly/17t2Lvf
Executive Functioning is...
Many models
No agreed upon definition
Lots of debate about their structure
The more we study how the brain
works…
...the more complicated it gets
Important to remember
Executive Functioning skills develop through
early childhood into adulthood
● The skills we expect change as a child
ages (test reflect that)
● Dysfunction can be addressed and these
capabilities continue to develop as
children age
It's important because...
• Visible Learning (2009, p.297)
o Metacognitive strategies are ranked
#13 overall on influences of student
achievement
o Ranked #8 out of the teaching domain
(so within what teachers can control).
o Effect size of d=0.69 (anything > 0.4 is
considered significant; anything 0.7 or >
is the equivalent to an increase of a
grade level or more in achievement
Red Flags
• Things heard in a RtI, Care Team, or RED
meeting that should make you think of EF
dysfunction
Red Flags
❏Not knowing how or when to start a project
or assignment
❏Not using a checklist or planner to keep
track of assignments, even when one is
available
❏Taking a long time to make a transition
❏Number of reminders necessary from
teacher or peers to make a transition
❏Making careless errors
Red Flags
❏Inability to follow a conversation, keep track
of details
❏Difficulty completing multi-step instructions
without reminders
❏Trouble waiting in line, waiting his or her turn
❏Ignoring distractions or being side-tracked by
distractions during instruction
❏Not reading directions before beginning task
Red Flags
❏Giving the same answer to different
questions, says the same thing repeatedly
❏Not realizing how long they’ve been off-task
❏Loses materials, homework
❏Low frustration tolerance
❏Shutting down/melting down
❏Reacting more strongly to situations than
peers
Assessment Tools
• Rating scales, pre-referral screening
questions - Nathan
• Observation and Interview - Joanna
• WISC integrated – Julie
• D-KEFS – Elissa
• NEPSY- Scott
 Pre-Referral Screening
• Task-Related Behaviors Screening Form
• Similar format to the Home/Adaptive Behaviors Checklist in the SSD
Initial Referral Packet (i.e. ‘no concern’, ‘some concern’, ‘great concern’)
• Based on a discussion about Executive Functioning by the 2011-12 SSD
School Psych Cohort
• Connects specific behaviors to areas of Executive Functioning
Pre-Referral Screening (cont’)
• Checklist For Intervention For Individuals With Executive
System Impairment and Organizational Impairment
• General Considerations
• Appropriateness
• Level of Development & Level of Recovery
• Self-Awareness of Strengths and Needs
• Goal Setting
• Planning & Organizing
• Self-Initiating
• Self-Inhibiting
• Self-Monitoring and Evaluating
• Problem Solving & Strategic Thinking
 Pre-Referral Screening (cont’)
• AIMsWeb Behavior Measures

• Prosocial Scale (SSIS-P)

• Communication or cooperation skills (Functional Communication)
• Initiating and sustaining conversations / interactions in an age-
appropriate manner (Attention / Hyperactivity)
• Self-control (Impulsivity / Inhibition)
• Concern for others (Monitor)

• Motivation Scale (SSIS-M)

• Engagement in instructional activities (Initiate / Monitor)
• Staying on task to complete an activity (Monitor / Attention)
• Effort when confronted with difficult work (Inhibition / Emotional
Control)
• Attentiveness (Attention)
 Pre-Referral Screening (cont’)
• AIMsWeb Behavior Measures (cont’)

• BESS-T & BESS-S

• Attention (Attention / Working Memory)
• Organization (Planning & Organizing / Organization of Materials)
• Assignments done incorrectly b/c not follow instructions (Attention /
Monitor)
• Distractability (Attention)
• Study habits (Planning & Organizing / Monitor)
• Trouble sitting still (Hyperactivity)
Rating Scales
• Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive
Function (BRIEF)
Rating Scales (cont’)
• BRIEF Emotional Control

Shift

Inhibit

Behavioral
Regulation

Monitor

Organization
of Materials

Plan/Organize

Meta-
Cognition Working Memory

Initiate
Rating Scales (cont’)
• Behavior Assessment System for Children –
Second Edition (BASC-2)
Rating Scales (cont’)

• BASC-2
• TRS/PRS/SRP Externalizing Problems Scales
• Hyperactivity
• TRS/PRS/SRP School Problems Scales
• Attention
• TRS/PRS Adaptive Skills Scales
• Adaptability & Functional Communication
• TRS/PRS Content Scales
• Emotional Self-Control & Executive Functioning
• Negative Emotionality & Resiliency
Rating Scales (cont’)
• Conners – Third Edition (Conners 3)
Rating Scales (cont’)
• Conners 3
• P/T/SR Scales
• Inattention
• Hyperactivity/Impulsivity
• P/T Scales
• Executive Functioning
 Rating Scales – Strengths and Weaknesses
F Index/ L Index/
Consistency
Self- Negativity Positivity Response
Rating Admin Parent Teacher Index/ V Internal Test-Retest Inter-Rater
Ages Report Scale/ Scale/ Pattern
Scale Time Form Form Inconsistency Index Consistency Reliability Reliability
Form Negative Positive Index
Scale
Impression Impression

.30 (P-T)
.82 (P) &
5-18 10-15
BRIEF Y Y Y Y Y N N N .80-.98 & .50 (S-P)
yrs min
.88 (T) &
.25 (S-T)

Attention
Attention Problems:
Problems: 0.60-0.85
0.80 Hyperactivity:
Hyperactivity: 0.70-0.84
0.70 Adaptive Individual
Adaptive Skills: 0.57- Scales: .70s
2- Skills 0.82 (P) 0.86 (P) (P)
10-30
BASC 2 21:11 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y & & &
min
yrs Attention Attention Individual
Problems: Problems: Scales:.53 to
0.90 0.85-0.93 .65 (T)
Hyperactivity: Hyperactivity:
0.91 0.83-0.92
Adaptive Adaptive
Skills: 0.87 (T) Skills: 0.82-
0.93

6-18 10-20
Conners 3 Y Y Y Y Y Y N N .77 to .97 .71 to .98 .52 to .94
yrs min
 Rating Scales – Strengths and Weaknesses (cont’)
• Strengths:
• Integrative approach to the assessment of children, adolescents, and young adults
across multiple informants
• Easy to administer and score
• Can be filled out in a short amount of time
• Generate a comprehensive portrayal of both the child’s strengths and weaknesses
• Include a variety of validity indices
• Weaknesses:
• Measure a limited number of psychopathology, behavioral, and personality domains
• Structure sometimes makes comparison of child self-ratings from parents and
teachers difficult
• Must be somewhat familiar with student (i.e. at least one month)
• Questions sometimes require clarification or to be read aloud to informants
Observations & Interviews
McCloskey Book
Have you checked the modules on the CD?
•
observation tools
•
parent interview
•
child interview
•
handouts
Who at SSD has this book?
Allen, Ayanaw, Boeckmann, Bretz, Burton, Crooks, Crowe, Dolosic, Dorton, J.Driedger,
Emery, Engel, Foutch, Gaeta, Giger, Grace, Guzy, Haley, Hanna, Hartz, Hemmersmeier,
Henkelman, Kosta, L.Kurth, Larson, Maggard, Moritz, Morrill, Porter, Price, Reed,
Ronzio, Ross, Schieffer, Schneider, Schuh, Sinha, Stewart, Taylor, Traughber, Velk,
White, Yates
OBSERVATION

Classroom Observations
• Observe student’s executive functions
• Observe the external supports in the
environment
o Classroom or Lesson structure/organization
o Visual reminders of rules/routines/expectations
o Teacher cues - verbal, physical, visual
o Peer cues - helpful?
OBSERVATION
Testing Observations (create your own code)
• Repetition of test items/instructions (R)
• Inattention/daydreaming (InAtt)
• Off-topic conversation (OffTop)
• Response to redirection (+ or - to Redirect)
• Impulsive responding (Imp)
• Difficulty shifting between subtests (Shift)
• Excessive motor movement (M)
• Self-corrections (SC)
INTERVIEW with STUDENT
• Determine a loose structure
o McCloskey: Executive Functions
o Sinha: Math, Read, Write, Relationships/conflicts at
Home, Relationships/conflicts at School
• Conversation-style vs. Structured interview
• Note their EF behaviors during interview
• Process-oriented questions: many students have
never done this before
READING: Tell me about the last book that you read.
Possible question probes: How did you choose it? What did you
like about that book? Is there a place at school or at home that
you like to read? Do you get distracted when you read? By
what? Do you find yourself reading a page and then having to
re-read that page? Tell me about what is happening for you
when you read. Does your mind wander to other topics, which
topics? Do you find it is difficult to sit still for an extended
period of time? Do others/sounds/sights distract you when you
are reading? Do you remember what you have read? Which do
you prefer and why: reading silently or outloud? Do you use
any strategies to help you remember what you have read?
Sometimes when reading there are words that you might not
know, what do you do when that happens? What helps you
figure out what the main point of the passage is? How do you
manage your time when you are given a long reading
assignment? Has a teacher ever done something that helped
WISC-IV INTEGRATED
Process Approach
Data from ADHD, AU and TBI groups
Correlational studies with D-KEFS
VCI
● Comprehension and Comprehension
Multiple Choice – pulls for impulsive
responding

● Similarities and Similarities Multiple Choice –

pulls for impulsive responding

● Picture Vocabulary Multiple Choice – pulls

for impulsive responding.
PRI
● Elithorn Maze – designed to measure
executive function. Sensitive to moderate to
severe but not mild executive functioning
deficits. Requires planning, self-monitoring
and inhibitory control.

● Block Design - mild executive functioning

effects. Requires a systematic, organized
approach and efficient motor response.
WMI
● Letter-Number Sequencing - requires
both working memory and cognitive
flexibility.

● Spatial Span Forward – lower for TBI and

ADHD groups. Motor execution
component under time pressure effects
score.
PSI
● Cancellation Random – Requires
organized response strategy without an
obvious structure.
Executive Functioning Index?
● Comprehension Multiple Choice
● Elithorn Mazes
● Spatial Span Forward
● Cancellation Random
Executive Functioning Index
● If one or more of the previously mentioned
subtests is lower than would be expected,
completing the four additional subtests in the
Executive Functioning Index can provide
some information about the existence of
deficits. Further testing is required to identify
the nature and source of the deficits.
Executive Functioning Index
● Should be reported by skill area. One
score cannot fully explain the diversity of
executive functioning.
Delis-Kaplan Executive
Function System
D-KEFS
•Comprehensively assesses higher level
cognitive functions in both children and
adults, ages 8-89.
•Measures executive functions such as
attention, language and, perception.
D-KEFS
•9 Subtests
•Subtests overlap to allow to subtle
distinctions
•Verbal and Nonverbal distinctions
•Provides information to support language
deficits
•High Ceiling/Low Floor
•Well normed
D-KEFS
Complex to administer

Complex to score
Trail Making Test
Requires a student to create a trail with their
pencil by connecting numbers, letters, and
then alternating numbers and letters. A
measure of connecting dots (motor speed) is
also included.
Trail Making Test
Measures: Cognitive Switching (Flexibility),
Inhibit: the ability to not respond to Capture
Stimuli, Establishing and Maintaining
Cognitive Set and Working Memory (retaining
the alphabet in order).
Verbal Fluency Test
•Requires a student to generate words by first
letter, by category and then by alternating
between two categories.
•Measures: Verbal knowledge, systematic
retrieval of lexical items; Monitoring,
Cognitive Switching (Flexibility), and
Establishing and Maintaining Cognitive Set.
Design Fluency Test
Requires a student to create unique designs
by using exactly four straight lines to make
connections among 10 dots. Dots are filled
or empty. The task builds from single fills
(only empty or only filled) into a switching
task of between filled dots and empty dots.
Design Fluency Test
Measures: Cognitive Switching (Flexibility),
Inhibition.
Color-Word Interference Test
Requires a student to: Condition 1: name
colors, Condition 2: read color words,
Condition 3: look at color names that are
printed in different color ink (the word red in
blue ink) and name the color of the ink
instead of reading the word, and Condition 4:
switch between reading the ink color or
reading the color word name. (Stroop test)
Color-Word Interference Test
Measures: Monitoring, Inhibition and
Cognitive Switching (Flexibility), and
Establishing and Maintaining Cognitive Set.
Sorting Test
Requires a student take a set of cards and
repeatedly sort and describe the cards based
on attributes of shape, color, writing or word
meaning. The second part of this test
requires the child to describe examiner
created sorts.
Sorting Test
Measures: Verbal and Non Verbal conceptual-
reasoning skills, Generate, Cognitive
Flexibility, Inhibit.
Twenty Questions
•Requires the student to look at an array of
pictures and ask up to 20 yes/no questions to
guess which picture the examiner has
chosen.
•Measures: Establish and maintain cognitive
set, monitoring, categorization, ability to use
feedback (Correct), Capture Stimuli (Inhibit)
Word Context
•Requires the student to use verbal cues to
deduce to meaning of made-up words.
•Measures: Deductive reasoning, integrating
multiple bits of information, hypothesis testing
(Generation), Flexibility.
•Can be a measure of linguistic skills and not
EF
Tower Test
•Requires the student to use verbal cues to deduce to
meaning of made-up words.
•Measures: Deductive reasoning, integrating multiple bits
of information, hypothesis testing (Generation),
Flexibility.
•Can be a measure of linguistic skills and not EF
Proverb Test (16+)
•Requires students to interpret proverbs.
•Measures: verbal abstract thinking, semantic
integration , and generalization.
NEPSY-II
• The NEPSY-II is a neuropsychological
assessment for children ages 3-16
• Assesses 6 cognitive domains
o Attention and Executive Functioning
o Language
o Memory and Learning
o Sensorimotor
o Social Perception
o Visuospatial Processing
NEPSY-II
● Clinical Groups
● ADHD
● Asperger’s Disorder
● Autistic Disorder
● Emotional Disturbance
● Deaf/Hard of Hearing
● Language Disorder
● Mathematics Disorder
● Reading Disorder
● Intellectually Disabled
● Traumatic Brain Injury
NEPSY-II
● 32 subtests and four delayed tasks
● Flexible administration and subtest selection
is the intent
● The subtests within each domain vary widely
in terms of stimulus presentation,
administration requirements, response type,
and scoring emphasis.
● Use the Assessment Planner when starting
out
 NEPSY-II Executive Functioning
Domain
Subtest Ages Scaled Process
Scores Scores?
?
Animal Sorting 7-16 Y Y

Auditory Attention/Response Set 5-16 Y Y

Clocks 7-16 Y N

Design Fluency 5-12 Y N

Inhibition 5-16 Y Y

Statue 3-6 Y Y
NEPSY-II Subtest Composition
Auditory Attention/Response Set
NEPSY-II Subtest Composition
Inhibition
NEPSY-II Additional Subtests
• Affect Recognition
• List Memory
• Narrative Memory
• Speeded Naming
• Word Generation
• Theory of Mind
NEPSY-II
• No composites, only subtest interpretation
• Error analysis and base rates
• The NEPSY-II tends to work well with kids
that more impaired or have other cognitive
difficulties (e.g. unable to read) because the
tasks a little easier.
Executive Functions How To
• Inhibition – Joanna
• Monitoring – Nathan
• Transition/Shift/Cog Flexibility – Julie
• Working Memory – Elissa
• Planning/Organization – Scott

For each: What it is, What it looks like, What

measures it, What an intervention might be,
SMART goal sample
INHIBITION
Inhibit – the Inhibit function cues resistance to, or
suppression of, urges to perceive, feel, think, or act on
first impulse. (McCloskey)

ALSO KNOWN AS:

•Self-control
•Impulse-control
•Response inhibition
•Antonym: Impulsivity
How do I explain Inhibition to others?

Inhibition is...

...the ability to voluntarily control a response.

To think before you act.
To think before you feel.
To resist impulsive responding.
Kind of a big deal

From the book Smart but Scattered:

“Inhibition is a fundamental skill that enables

all other executive skills to develop. A child at
the mercy of his impulses can’t initiate,
sustain attention, plan, organize or problem
solve effectively.”
What does Inhibition look like?
Examples:
• Keeping cool and thinking in an emotionally charged
situation
• Raising hand before answering a question in class
• Waiting for turn to play in a game or to speak during a
conversation
• Ignoring distractions while working on homework
• Putting a helmet on before getting on a bike
• Reading the directions before starting an assignment
• Responding to a younger sibling who is annoying
• Waiting in line at school or at a store
• Keeping oneself from falling back asleep in the morning
• Not talking back to parents/teachers when upset
Measuring Inhibition
• BASC-2: Sensation Seeking, Impulsivity
• BRIEF: Inhibit
• DKEFS Color-Word Interference test (Stroop)
• DKEFS/NEPSY: Tower Test
• Classroom observation
• Impulsive or quirky responding in testing
• Research: Stop signal task, Go/no-go task
Playful ways to increase Inhibition
• Choose Your Own Adventure Books: help student to
recognize how each decision made can lead to a distinct
consequence.
• Playing board games (e.g. Trouble, Chutes and Ladder,
Candyland): turn taking
• Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero:
Concentration and thinking before acting
• Simon Says: practice delaying an action until the
appropriate cue is heard
• Freeze Tag: encourages the stop-and-start action of
appropriate behaviors as
well as the delaying of impulsive action
• Reading with a partner: alternating turns to allow for
practice in waiting for one's turn and patience.
Inhibition: SMART goal
● Goal
○ CHILD will exhibit inhibition (e.g. raising
hand, waiting in line, and taking turns in
games and conversation) in classes and
school activities with 80% accuracy as
measured by weekly time-sampling
observations and teacher report form.
Monitoring
•Definition: The ability to check work to assess one’s
own performance and keep track of the effect of
one’s own behavior on other people

• Task-Oriented Monitoring or Work-Checking Habits

• Whether a child assesses his or her own performance during or
shortly after finishing a task to ensure accuracy or appropriate
attainment of a goal

• Self-Monitoring or Interpersonal Awareness

• Whether a child keeps track of the effect that his or her
behavior has on others
Monitoring (cont’)
• If a child has high monitoring skills, he/she may . . .

• Tend to be more cautious in their approach to tasks or assignments

• Often notice and/or check for mistakes
• Voluntarily ask for help
• Modify their work or study habits to meet goals

• Often be aware of their own behavior and the impact this behavior has on
their social interactions with others
• Be highly responsive to social cues and their situational context, and thus
change their behavior in order to fit different situations
• Appear to function better socially in groups
Monitoring (cont’)
• If a child has low monitoring skills, he/she may . . .

• Demonstrate variable performance on assignments/tests based on their

mood/feelings at the time
• Require one or more prompts to focus on instruction
• Complete similar tasks or assignments incorrectly

• Exhibit expressive controls congruent with their own internal states (i.e.
beliefs, attitudes, and dispositions) regardless of social circumstance
• Tend to consider expressing a self-presentation dissimilar from their internal
states as a falsehood and undesirable
• Appear to function better socially in more intimate relationships or in one-
on-one interactions
Measures of Monitoring Skills
• BRIEF
• Monitor Scale

• BASC-2
• Adaptability Scale
• Executive Functioning Scale

• Conners-3
• Executive Functioning Scale

• AIMsWeb Behavior Measures

• Item analysis on SSIS-P, SSIS-M, BESS-T, BESS-S
Measures of Monitoring Skills (cont’)
• D-KEFS
• Design Fluency Subtest
• Tower Subtest

• NEPSY-2
• Animal Sorting
• Design Fluency
 Intervention for Task-Oriented Monitoring Example
• Description
• Teacher analyzes a particular student's pattern of errors commonly made when solving a
math algorithm (on either computation or word problems)
• Teacher develops a brief error self-correction checklist unique to that student
• Student uses this checklist to self-monitor—and when necessary correct—his/her
performance on math worksheets before turning them in
• Materials
• Customized student math error self-correction checklist
• Worksheets or assignments containing math problems matched to the error self-
correction checklist
• Steps
• 1) Develop the checklist, 2) Introduce the checklist, 3) Provide performance feedback,
praise, and encouragement, 4) Provide reinforcement for checklist use [Optional], 5)
Fade the intervention
Intervention for Task-Oriented Monitoring Sample
Intervention for Self-Monitoring Example
• Description
• Behavioral expectations defined
• The student measures and records his or her own behavior
• The student compares that recorded behavior to a pre-determined standard
• Materials
• Customized student behavior self-monitoring form
• Monitoring cue
• Steps
• 1) Define behavior target(s) to self-monitor, 2) Choose method for recording
self-monitoring data, 3) Select self-monitoring schedule, 4) Decide on a
monitoring cue, 5) Choose rewards for successful behavior change
[Optional], 6) Conduct periodic accuracy checks, 7) Fade the intervention
Intervention for Self-Monitoring Sample
 SMART Goals for Monitoring
• Task-Oriented Monitoring
• _______ will finish __ out of __ of his/her long-term assignments with ___% completion
by breaking them down into smaller pieces, setting up blocks of time for completion of
each part, and recording and monitoring progress towards objectives
• The number of pieces and time allotment to complete objectives would be reviewed by the
instructor
• A schedule is set up by the student and instructor to promote accountability
• Self-Monitoring
• _______ will demonstrate the ability to recognize expected and unexpected behaviors
as well as rate his own behavior as part of his/her self-monitoring system with ___%
accuracy as compared to teacher ratings of behavior on __ out of __ opportunities.
• Examples of expected/unexpected behaviors: using inappropriate language, drumming on
his/her desk, leaving his/her seat, etc.
• The self monitoring system would allow the student to describe his/her behavior as well as the
event(s) and emotion(s) preceding the behavior, as well as rate his/her response on a
quantitative scale
Transition/Shift/Cognitive Flexibility
● The ability to switch attention between
two different activities or concepts and to
think about multiple concepts
simultaneously.
Transition/Shift/Cognitive Flexibility
● What does it look like?

● If the child has cognitive flexibility

○ Will learn from experiences and change behavior in
response to errors.
○ Interpret information in multiple ways

● If the child does not have cognitive flexibility

○ Repeat the same mistake over and over
○ Must have his/her own way
Transition/Shift/Cognitive Flexibility
Measures of Transition/Shift/Cognitive
Flexibility
D-KEFS Trail-Making switching
D-KEFS Design Fluency switching
D-KEFS Verbal Fluency category switching
D-KEFS Color-Word Interference switching
D-KEFS Sorting Test
NEPSY-II Auditory Attention and Response
Set
Transition/Shift/Cognitive Flexibility
● Interventions:
○ Use perspective-taking to increase reading
comprehension
○ Use self-monitoring and checking to help learn self-
regulation
○ Teach students what types of errors to look for
○ Teach students how to look for errors
○ Teach students how to correct errors
○ COPS-check work for Capitalization, Organization,
Punctuation, and Sentence structure.
Transition/Shift/Cognitive Flexibility
● Goal
○ _____ will transition effectively between
classes, between activities, from bus to
school, etc. with ___ frequency as measured
by _____.
Working Memory
•The capacity to hold information in mind in
order to complete a task, encode and store
information, or generate goals
Working Memory in the Classroom
•Difficulty following multi-step verbal or written
directions
•Distraction: Attention wanders because the
student has lost track of the class discussion
•Difficulty sticking with a task to completion
•Difficulty copying from the board
Working Memory in Math Class
•Difficulty following the routine to solve multi-
step math problems
•Difficulty finding the pertinent information in a
word problem and then remembering what
operation to use
Working Memory in Com. Arts
•Difficulty writing a coherent paragraph or
sentence because they lose track of their
thoughts
•Difficulty answering comprehension questions
because the student does not remember
recently read materials
Working Memory Socially
•Difficulty following conversation threads
•Difficulty telling jokes
•Forgetting their task when sent on an errand
Tests that Measure Working Memory
•WISC-IV integrated
–Digit Span: Backward
–Letter-Number Sequencing Process Approach
–Spatial Span: Backward

•BRIEF
•NEPSY
Memory for Designs
Memory for Faces,
Memory for Names,
Narrative Memory
Sentence Repetition

•D-KEFS: Trail Making

Working Memory Interventions
•Teacher agrees to repeat directions as necessary
•Student parrots or paraphrases directions
•Directions are provided in a written format:
–On the board or on paper
•Directions Buddy: peer assigned to restate directions as necessary
•Separate tasks so that they are given one at a time
•Teacher reviews work in progress for accuracy “Check-ins”
Teacher/ Peer buddy provides notes
Planners/Schedules/Checklists
Working Memory Interventions
•Written Work: Task Cards
I have capital letters.

I have end marks.

Basic words are spelled correctly; I used my word list to

help me.

I used the question in my answer.

I supported my answer with details from the passage.

I used my personal best handwriting.

I read my work in a whisper to myself or my partner.

Working Memory Intervention
•Reading Chapter Books:
•Student writes brief (10-15 word) summary
(main idea) on a sticky note every two pages
and places it in the chapter book. This allows
the student to solidify their understanding as
they read and jog their memory for
comprehension tasks later.
Working Memory Goals
•Student will increase task related skills by
following two step verbal directions with ___
accuracy, as measured by ___.
•Student will increase task related skills by
following three step written directions with __
accuracy, as measured by ___.
Planning and Organization
- What is it?
The ability to plan ahead and organize
behavior across time and space in order to
fulfill goals and intentions
• It is important to note the difference between the Organize and the
Foresee/Plan cues. It is possible to effectively use the Foresee/Plan cue to
realize that anticipation of future events in necessary, but not follow this
with the use the Organize cue to assure that planning for the future is
carried out in an organized manner (McCloskey, 2009).
Planning and Organization
- What is it?
Foresee/Plan (Short-term) – the foresee/plan function
cues the anticipation of conditions or events in the very
near future, such as the consequences of one’s own
actions, or cues the engagement of the capacities
required to identify a series of perception, feelings,
thoughts, and/or actions, and the likely or desired
outcome that would result from carrying them out in the
very near future.

Organize – the organize function cues the use of routines

for sorting, sequencing, or otherwise arranging
perceptions, feelings, thoughts, and/or actions, to
enhance or improve the efficiency of experience,
Planning and Organization
- Looks Like
Difficulties with the Foresee/Plan cue are reflected in a
lack of anticipation of conditions despite adequate
capacities that would enable such anticipation to occur.
(surprised by obvious event or sequence leading to an
event)

Difficulties with the Foresee/Plan cue often result in

haphazard and ineffective functioning, poorly conceived
ineffective functioning, or inefficient approaches to novel
problem-solving and/or routine activities. (consistently
doing things the hard way when obvious more efficient
alternatives are available)
Planning and Organization
- Looks Like
Difficulties with the organize cue can result in the lack of
the use of sequencing abilities when they are necessary
for success, even though the child has demonstrated the
ability to effectively sequence information when initially
registering, manipulating, storing, and retrieving
information and/or carry out actions. (using an outline
before writing, completing tasks out of order)
Planning and Organization
- Measures
● WJ-III COG: Planning, Number Matrices
● WISC-IV Integrated: Elithorn Mazes, Block Design
● WIAT-III or KTEA-II: Essay written expression tasks
● PAL 2 Report Writing
● Any classroom observation with very diminished
response latency
● KABC-II: Rover, Pattern Reasoning, Story Completion
● D-KEFS: Tower Test, Sorting, 20 Questions
● NEPSY-II: Clocks, Block Construction
● Poor planning could also be a result of poor inhibition
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Goal Setting
○ Understand and envision the endpoint of a task.
Having a well-defined target helps to focus students
efforts
○ Set proximal goals, e.g., goals that can be
accomplished in the near future.
○ Set specific goals, e.g., goals that describe the
actual outcome, as opposed to a reminder to “Do
your best."
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Goal Setting
○ Provide rubrics and samples of completed work to
help students visualize the end product.
○ Use calendars to help students schedule and pace
the tasks that lead to completion of the project.
○ Use graphic organizers to synthesize and
summarize key concepts.
○ Set appropriately challenging goals, e.g., goals that
are based on the student‟s tolerance for stress and
engagement.
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Planning and Prioritization
○ Practice estimating how long a task might take to
complete. Compare the actual length of the activity
and the estimation.
○ Prioritize tasks by categorizing them as: Obligations
(“have to”), Aspirations (“want to”) and Negotiations
(“choose to”). Then allocate time according to the
category.
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Planning and Prioritization
○ Rearrange schedules to accommodate unexpected
occurrences. This is a difficult aspect of time
management due to lack of students‟ experience
with time allocation. It is a critical executive function
for college and career.
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Organization of Materials
○ Break down tasks into component parts and provide
a checklist for each component, e.g., what materials
are needed to complete each part?
○ Develop templates for repetitive procedures, e.g.,
homework in a designated folder, daily update of
assignment calendar, etc.
○ Mentally walk through the planning process, e.g.,
what materials are needed for each class at school
and/or at home?
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Organization of Materials
○ Use technology to assist organizational skills, e.g.,
email completed assignment to teacher; download
finished product onto flash drive and print in school;
use alarm app to remind student of due dates or for
time management.
● Organizing Spaces
○ Provide examples of well-organized spaces.
○ Schedule regular opportunities to sort and delete
materials from learning spaces.
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Organization of Ideas
○ Sort and categorize ideas using graphic organizers
○ Use semantic maps to identify similarities and
differences among concepts. Seeing relationships
between concepts assists vocabulary acquisition,
reading comprehension and analysis.
○ Practice identifying the main idea of paragraphs,
chapters, works of literature. Determine if the main
idea "fits‟ the details provided
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Organization of Ideas
○ “PLEASE” writing strategy: Pick a topic, List your
ideas, Evaluate your list, Activate
○ the paragraph with a topic sentence, Supply
supporting sentences, Evaluate your list.
○ (Welch, M. (1992). in Learning Disability Quarterly
15, 119-128.
○ “TREE” writing strategy for persuasive essays: Topic
sentence, Reasons, Examine each reason, Ending.
(Graham & Harris, 1989)
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Organization of Ideas
○ “STOP” writing strategy for persuasive essays:
Suspend judgment, Take a side, Organize ideas,
Plan more as you write. (De La Paz & Graham.
(1997). in Journal of Educational Psychology, 89,
203-222.)
○ “DARE” writing strategy for persuasive essays:
Develop a topic sentence, Add supporting details,
Reject arguments for the other side, End with a
conclusion. (De La Paz & Graham, (1997). Ibid.
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Organization of Ideas
○ “PROVE” strategy and template for writing a thesis
and counterarguments: Present your knowledge,
Reveal information, Offer examples/explanations,
Verify your knowledge, Express your knowledge in a
summary statement. (Scanlan, D. (2002). in
Teaching Exceptional Children, 34(4), 50-54.)
Planning and Organization
- Intervention
● Organization of Ideas
○ “Pieces of a Thesis” Strategy for organizing
analytical writing: The template helps students map
their ideas using a graphic organizer starting with
the topic that leads to three or more strands, each of
which tracks the evidence for each strand and
culminates in a conclusion. (Meltzer, 2006)
Planning and Organization
- SMART Goal
● ____ will be able to describe their social
skills goal by ____ with ___% accuracy
● ____ will have all required assignments in
their calendar for the next month with ____%
accuracy on the first school/work day of the
month
● ____ will be able to accurately estimate the
time to complete components of a project
with 20% variance
Planning and Organization
- SMART Goal
● Within a week of being given a project ____
will have written down all required
components of the project to be completed
in order using an organizer ___% of the time
● ____ will apply the ____ strategy at the
beginning of a writing assignment ___% of
the time
Overview of what to do
You made it!
Test Kit Availability
Free Resources

bit.ly/17t2Lvf
Feedback
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1VlzC6aASD
dqg7I1jqOmFIcH1OUmh6G88zrxIHXVmQnE/
viewform
References
● Hattie (2009) Visible Learning
● NEPSY-II Manual
● McCloskey (2009) Assessment and Intervention for
Executive Function Difficulties
● Academy Activity (Academy 1: Behavioral and
Academic Observations [9/30/2013])
● Educational Consultants and Research Associates
(2011) White paper: Addressing Executive Function at
the Secondary Level
● McCloskey & Perkins (2012) The Essentials of
Executive Functions
● ¨Miller, D. C. (2007). Essentials of School
References
•Dawson, Peg, Ed.D. and Richard Guare, Ph.D. (2009).
Smart but Scattered. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
•Prifitera, A., Saklofske, D. H., & Weiss, L. G., (Ed.).
(2008). Neuropsychological Applications of the WISC-
IV and WISC-IV INTEGRATED.
•Wechsler, D. (2004). WISC-IV Integrated Technical and
Interpretive Manual. San Antonio, TX: Pearson.
•Weiss, L. G., Saklofske, D. H., Prifitera, A., and
Holdnack, J. A. (2006). WISC-IV Advanced Clinical
Interpretation. New York, NY: Academic Press.
Learningworksforkids.com
References
•American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and
Statistical manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition.
Arlington, VA, American Psychiatric Association, 2013.
•Flick, G. L. (1998) ADD/ADHD Behavior-Change
Resource Kit. The Center of Applied Research in
Education, West Nyack, NY.
•Gioia, G.A., Isquith, P.K., Guy, S.C., Kenworthy, L.
(2000) BRIEF Manual and Supplemental Materials,
Psychological Assessment Resources, Lutz, FL.
References
•Stormont, M.A. (2008) Increase Academic Success for
Children with ADHD Using Sticky Notes and
Highlighters.
DKEF Manual