Last night i reshared this article from Autism Support Network, but spent so long introducing what i wanted to say, that i couldn't really talk about the article.
Today i want to discuss one of the jargon terms used in the opening paragraph of the article. It's a very important one, and, though the author explains it, the term doesn't stick very well.
Executive Functioning.
How's that for a mouthful?
The author uses one paragraph, of mostly three syllable words to define this, buries some excellent examples, before settling into calling it "EF."
Well, if you take it slowly, it's comprehensible.
But this is much too important a term for those of us with organization deficiencies to take chances. Let's take another crack.
Executive. Like "executive order," that's getting it done. What's needed to GET THE JOB DONE? The CEO (Chief EXECUTIVE Officer) and his highly capable administrative assistant break the job down into its parts and make it happen.
Functioning. In a hospital, we talk about the kidneys functioning, the lungs functioning, how well an Alzheimer's patient is functioning.
How well are the parts working to make the body's work happen?
Executive Functioning skills. They're our planning and organizational skills. And they don't come naturally with intelligence. Whole different skill set.
Like learning to tie shoes or any other complex activity, managing homework is a skill that can and should be taught. The tendency, however, is to just toss kids into it, thinking that a few years of practice at spelling out some static tasks ("Write your name at the top of the page. Pass your papers to the front." Two static tasks.) will be enough for everyone to get the idea.
For some, it is.
Then there's the rest of us.
How's that for a mouthful?
The author uses one paragraph, of mostly three syllable words to define this, buries some excellent examples, before settling into calling it "EF."
Well, if you take it slowly, it's comprehensible.
But this is much too important a term for those of us with organization deficiencies to take chances. Let's take another crack.
Executive. Like "executive order," that's getting it done. What's needed to GET THE JOB DONE? The CEO (Chief EXECUTIVE Officer) and his highly capable administrative assistant break the job down into its parts and make it happen.
Functioning. In a hospital, we talk about the kidneys functioning, the lungs functioning, how well an Alzheimer's patient is functioning.
How well are the parts working to make the body's work happen?
Executive Functioning skills. They're our planning and organizational skills. And they don't come naturally with intelligence. Whole different skill set.
Like learning to tie shoes or any other complex activity, managing homework is a skill that can and should be taught. The tendency, however, is to just toss kids into it, thinking that a few years of practice at spelling out some static tasks ("Write your name at the top of the page. Pass your papers to the front." Two static tasks.) will be enough for everyone to get the idea.
For some, it is.
Then there's the rest of us.
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