12/02/2026
If a student understands the lesson but cannot complete the task, it is often assumed to be motivation, effort or behaviour.
In many cases, the barrier is executive function.
Executive function skills are responsible for task initiation, planning, working memory, organisation, cognitive flexibility and sustained attention. When these skills are underdeveloped or overloaded, students can comprehend content yet struggle to translate that understanding into action.
Strategies such as visual schedules, chunking instructions, allowing additional processing time, incorporating movement breaks and providing clear start and finish cues reduce cognitive load and increase independence.
This is not about lowering expectations.
It is about scaffolding the skills required to meet them.
When we support executive function in the classroom, we shift from managing behaviour to building capacity.
If you are noticing this pattern in your classroom or at home, it may be worth exploring executive function more closely.
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