Planning, organization, time management, attention, and self-control: These are just a few executive functioning skills that all kids and teens should learn. With such a focus on remote learning, I’ve put together a list with some digital tools and supports to help learners strengthen their executive functioning skills.
It’s worth mentioning that these resources can be used during in-person or remote learning. From interactive workbooks to apps to games, it’s important to try different strategies to find what works best for your learners.
Just a note: This list started off smaller, but I found myself continually adding to it (and I hope to continue to!). Some of the more robust resources below are paid. I’ve also included many free links to websites, apps, and even several of my own resources (including task cards, posters, and activities). I hope you find these supports helpful.
Interactive Workbooks
Executive Functioning Digital Workbook from A-Z. An interactive workbook with moveable pieces for 40 different executive functioning skills.
Self-Control Activity Book. An engaging interactive workbook that helps students learn how to be a self-control STAR.
Digital Posters
Executive Functioning Skills Poster. A visual and teaching tool to represent each of the 10 core executive functioning skills from planning to perseverance.
Executive Functioning Academic Posters. A set of three digital and printable posters to highlight how EF skills are used in math, reading, and writing.
Daily Emotions Check-In. A free 5-step daily check-in to provide support with self-control and managing emotions.
Executive Functioning Skills for Home Poster. A printable and digital poster to send home with families who might want some extra support with executive functioning practice at home.
Apps
Remind. A communication app that helps send reminders to students and families about important dates.
MyHomework. A student planner that helps keep track of homework and other assignments.
Time Planner. An app that helps make to-do lists and track time on assignments.
2Do. Planning app for project and task management.
Train Your Brain. A fun game that helps work on attention skills.
Mind Map. An app that connects ideas to create graphic organizers.
To Do Reminder. Create simple to-do lists and reminders.
Games
2-D Shapes Sorting (TopMarks). This game encourages using organization, planning, and flexible thinking skills as kids sort items into a grid of different categories.
Concentration Games (MentalUp). This site has a large selection of games that focus on visual attention, focusing, and memory skills. Very engaging and fun!
Jigsaw Puzzles (Jigsaw Planet). Many different digital puzzles kids and teens can work on. Puzzles build skills for planning, attention, and perseverance.
Chess (Chess.com). Use this online Chess game to have students play against the computer at different difficulties. Chess is a strategy game that works on planning, flexibility, and perseverance.
Spot the Difference (Cool Math Games). Practice attention skills with this spot the difference game.
Simon Says (Memozor). A classic game, Simon Says helps kids and teens remember sequential patterns that work on attention and working memory skills.
Self-Control Game. This is a game I originally designed as a printable board game, but added a digital version to support more learners. Just hit the play button on the video to read and practice a variety of situation cards for the game.
Word Ladders (Turtle Diary). Word ladders are a vocabulary game that allow kids to build words on each other. These help kids and teens work on metacognition, working memory, and flexibility.
Scrabble (Hasbro). One of my favorite EF games, Scrabble builds on skills for planning, attention, and flexibility. This can also be a great relationship-building game to play with students.
Digital Lessons & Activities
Executive Functioning Lessons. An introductory set of digital and printable activities to teach about 10 core executive functioning skills.
Self-Control Boot Camp. Lessons and activities specifically targeted to teach and improve self-control skills.
Coping Strategies Practice. A coping strategies list to help identify, discuss, and practice coping skills for self-control.
Organization Boot Camp. A set of lessons and activities to teach organization skills.
Executive Functioning Choice Boards. Printable and digital choice boards filled with meaningful practice for all 10 executive functioning skills.
Executive Functioning Advanced Workbook. One of my most comprehensive executive functioning workbooks, filled with meaningful tools to help kids and teens.
Mindful Morning Check-In. A digital activity to promote a calm, focused, and successful start to the day.
Executive Functioning Flip Book. A printable and digital flip book used to teach about the 10 executive functioning skills.
Videos
Mindful Focus Compilation. A set of videos to help kids practice mindful breathing and other activities to improve focus and promote a feeling of calm.
Spot the Differences. A set of five “spot the difference pictures” that can build skills for attention and problem-solving.
Digital Task Cards
Executive Functioning Task Cards. Hundreds of printable and digital task cards to start conversations about planning, organization, time management, and more.
Executive Functioning Task Cards (for younger learners). Another set of EF task cards designed specifically for elementary learners.
Problem-Solving Task Cards. A free set of problem-solving task cards to help kids and young adults think of solutions to problems.
Websites
Countdown timer. Use this website as a stopwatch. This can serve as a visual timer during work sessions, or a tool to help kids work independently. This site has many other timers to check out too!
Graphic organizers. Use this site to create your own interactive graphic organizers with Google Draw.
Virtual manipulatives. Large selection of virtual manipulatives for math, such as number lines, unifix cubes, and base ten blocks.
Virtual manipulatives library. Another large vault of virtual manipulatives and tools to help kids and teens.
Learning to code. Tools and sites that help teach kids and teens learn how to program. These activities can be highly motivating for learners while working on skills for planning, working memory, and perseverance.
Simplenote Note-taking. Website and app that helps sync all notes to one location.
Boom Cards
Organization Boom Cards. Use these executive functioning Boom Cards to practice EF skills in an interactive way. Boom Cards are great to provide immediate feedback to learners as they work on each card.
Hybrid Learning
Guide to Hybrid Learning. If you are embarking on a hybrid learning journey, a good friend of mine put together this incredible website filled with classroom setup suggestions, tools, expectations, and more to help get started. While this isn’t specific to executive functioning, I felt it was worthy to add in, as switching from classroom to online learning can be extremely difficult for any learners (especially those with executive functioning needs).
Suggestions?
I would love to add to this list! If you have free websites or apps you’d like me to add, feel free to comment below or reach out to let me know.
You are such an amazing resource