Executive Function Coaching for Middle School Students

Discover how our coaches can help develop executive functioning schools for middle school students, along with ways to tell if a student is falling behind. Contact us today to help your child build the life skills they need to thrive at school, home, and beyond!

 

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Expected Executive Functioning Skills for Middle School Students

Middle school is a crucial time for students to exercise foundational Executive Function skills. These skills help them keep up with academic tasks and chores now, and will be vital later on as they choose a career path and take on important responsibilities. Some Executive Function skills middle schoolers can be expected to practice in school, at home, or with coaches include:
  • Task initiation
  • Self-regulation and emotional control
  • Organization
  • Attention
  • Planning & prioritizing
  • Time management
  • Working memory
  • Flexible thinking

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Signs a Student Is Struggling with Executive Function Skills

Some students struggle to develop Executive Functioning skills at the same pace as their peers. If a child is having a harder time building these skills parents and teachers may notice:

  • Organizational challenges: The student has difficulty organizing - whether a backpack, a desk, or multi-step directions for class assignments, the student may lose or forget to turn in homework
  • Behavior or emotional management challenges: The student is impulsive or easily frustrated, cannot resist online distractions, has difficulty settling down to do work and persisting with tasks
  • Time management challenges: The student leaves work until the last minute, causing panic and stress at home
  • Working memory challenges: The student struggles to remember and integrate multiple pieces of information when working on a task
  • Academic challenges: The student may lack persistence or often not start or complete even small assignments
  • Self-care challenges: The student needs reminders to complete grooming or hygiene routines or household responsibilities

How Coaching Can Boost EF Skills

Coaching offers a way to build critical Executive Functioning skills step by step, with guidance that’s tailored to each student’s unique challenges. Instead of simply telling students what to do, coaches teach them how to do it: breaking big projects into smaller steps, experimenting with systems to stay organized, and practicing strategies to manage distractions. Over time, students gain the confidence that they can handle school demands on their own. 

Coaching doesn’t just help in the moment. It equips students with lifelong tools they can carry into college, careers, and beyond. Learn how our incredible coaches can boost executive functioning for middle school students!

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Aaron got straight A's and B's this year after failing the previous school year. Listen to his mom's testimony.

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Executive Function Lessons for Middle School Students Recommended by Our Coaches

Whether you’re a parent or teacher, there are lots of methods you can try to support middle school students as they develop strong Executive Function skills. From setting up simple routines that make organization easier, to encouraging short planning sessions before tackling homework, to modeling how you manage distractions in your own day, these small but consistent efforts make a big difference. When adults provide structure and gentle guidance, students begin to see that these skills can be learned, practiced, and improved over time. Learn about some of the executive functioning lessons for middle school students our coaches use:

 

Teacher with elementary students

When keeping track of materials is a challenge

One common problem is that students often forget reading materials for English class. That book is another item to keep track of and it's usually a smaller object amidst the bulky binders and heavy textbooks. As for keeping track of the book itself, a three-hole punched zippered pouch can work well as a dedicated holder for the current paperback your child’s class is reading. It can’t slip and slide to the bottom of the locker or scatter onto the floor in a rush to pack up at the end of class. A post-it note reminder attached to the front cover to return the book to its home can help students maintain this habit.

When getting started on homework feels impossible

Sometimes a student can feel like there's an immense mountain of work ahead of them - and no amount of slogging away can ever make a dent in it. In order to tame those emotions and reality-check the situation, we like to collaborate with students to create a plan for the night called a "Fast Break." This strategy is simply to list exactly what the student plans to do and when, while also planning out sensible and time-limited breaks to recharge and refocus. For example, they may list "math worksheet" first, because that will require the most brain power. Next to it, write down the time they'll begin and the estimated time they'll finish. Keep writing down start and finish times, in order, until all the assignments are accounted for.  This provides a guide for a student to know if they are on track - they simply look at the Fast Break list, check the time and what they're working on, and they'll see if they're running ahead or behind schedule. This strategy transforms a disorganized "too much to do" feeling into a confident, focused "I have a plan" attitude.

 

Young female student reading a book

When phone distraction is a problem

Who doesn't feel distracted when trying to work with a phone nearby? It's typical to hear students say that their homework takes "forever" -  yet the biggest culprit that is stealing their time is right under their noses. Students can fool themselves by thinking that they can multitask while doing homework: a few texts here and there and a TikTok video (or 20), and before they know it, that 30-minute assignment has taken them 2 hours. The key here is to ask your middle schooler to simply experiment one night by having their phone safely out of reach (and their laptop on "do not disturb") while they do their work. Maybe you could model this experiment alongside them, to show that you'd like to better control your own distractions. Look at the results of the experiment together. Did you both finish your work more quickly? What did it feel like? Can they imagine trying this on their own? It's not easy to convince a student to put down their phone, but small experiments like this can reveal to them the costs of working while distracted and help them make smart choices about their technology.

When disorganization gets in the way of academic performance

A messy backpack, crumpled papers, and missing assignments can quietly chip away at a student’s confidence and grades. Often, disorganization isn’t about being careless - it’s that students haven’t yet built systems that work for them. One way to turn the tide is by introducing a simple “end-of-day reset.” At the same time each afternoon or evening, set aside just 5–10 minutes to sort papers into the right folders, tuck materials back into their spots, and make sure tomorrow’s essentials are ready to go. Parents can help by setting a visible reminder or even doing their own “reset” alongside their child to make it a shared routine. With consistency, these small resets prevent last-minute scrambles and help students walk into class with the right materials - and the right mindset.

Learn More About Coaching
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  • Understand their brains and how emotions affect learning
  • Learn and apply strategies to stay on task and maintain attention
  • Develop personalized systems to organize materials and work areas
  • Learn how to break longer-term assignments into smaller parts and plan how to get the work done
  • Identify and use technology that improves their productivity
  • Gain insight about what motivates them, and use that knowledge to be productive
  • Learn and practice methods to cope with strong emotions
  • Learn how to get started on work and persist when the work is challenging
  • Develop systems to start and complete writing assignments
  • Develop self-reflection skills to help them take ownership of new habits
  • Learn how to study and take tests effectively
  • Learn how to advocate for themselves with teachers

Executive Function Goals for Middle School Students

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Whether you're a parent looking to better support your child or are simply looking to improve your own Executive Function skills, this podcast is for you.

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Check out our variety of resources and tips on Executive Function support, ADHD, mental health, and more.