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Executive Functioning

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Contact Us About Availability & Pricing

Structure. Skills. Confidence.

​At Harmon School, our executive functioning coaches are experienced educators who help students stay focused, organized, and in control of their learning. With backgrounds in special education, STEM, and learning support, our team brings real classroom experience and a compassionate, practical approach.

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We work 1-on-1 or in small groups to build lifelong skills—like task initiation, time management, and planning—so students can thrive in school and beyond.​​

​How We Support Students

​​​​Executive functioning isn’t just a checklist—it’s a system of habits, tools, and consistent support. We help students apply these skills in real life through:

  • Weekly or biweekly coaching sessions (1-on-1 or small group)

  • Regular check-ins to keep students accountable and adjust plans as needed

  • Guided use of planners and task trackers to stay organized

  • Digital tools like Google Docs, calendars, AI, and task apps for managing assignments

  • Customized Google Classroom hubs for each student to organize their work, resources, and communication in one place

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Whether your child is a high-performing student overwhelmed by expectations or one who struggles to get started, our structured support helps them build confidence, develop habits, and reach their goals.​​

Core Executive Functioning Skills We Teach

​​​​​​Our coaching targets the 11 essential executive functioning skills, backed by research and proven to support long-term academic and personal success:

  • Response Inhibition – Thinking before acting; resisting distractions

  • Working Memory – Holding and using information while completing tasks

  • Emotional Control – Managing frustration, anxiety, and strong emotions

  • Flexibility – Adapting to changes and shifting between tasks or ideas

  • Sustained Attention – Staying focused through longer or difficult tasks

  • Task Initiation – Starting assignments without procrastination

  • Planning & Prioritization – Setting goals, creating step-by-step plans, and knowing what matters most

  • Organization – Keeping materials, workspaces, and thoughts in order

  • Time Management – Estimating time, meeting deadlines, and staying on schedule

  • Goal-Directed Persistence – Following through on goals—even when motivation dips

  • Metacognition – Reflecting on one’s thinking and evaluating which strategies work best

Why Executive Functioning?

Success requires creativity, flexibility, self-control, and discipline, all of which are rooted in strong executive functions. These include the ability to mentally play with ideas, respond thoughtfully rather than impulsively, and maintain focus. However, to master these skills, students also need guidance in learning how to manage tasks effectively and set achievable goals.

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Diverse activities such as computerized training, non-computerized games, aerobics, martial arts, yoga, mindfulness, and school curricula have been shown to enhance children’s executive functions. Central to all these activities is repeated practice and the continuous challenge of executive functions. Students with initially weaker executive functions benefit the most, making early training crucial to preventing future achievement gaps.

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Supporting students as they perfect their executive functioning skills involves more than just focusing on these abilities in isolation. A holistic approach that also nurtures emotional, social, and physical development—through activities like aerobics, martial arts, yoga, and curricula designed to improve executive functions—can be more effective. By providing comprehensive support, we can help students build the essential skills they need for success.

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