Smart But Struggling
Many of the students we work with are smart but struggling, like Lily. Her logic exceeded the 90th percentile. Why is it that kids can be extremely bright, yet struggle. The answer often has to do with executive function.
Executive Function
Executive function is a set of skills that enable us to manage our selves – plan, prioritize, complete tasks, manage our time and problem solve. They are the set of skills around academics that enable greater success. This was the case for Lily. Academically – her ability to read well, grasp math concepts, etc.- were very strong. However, she was often overwhelmed, struggled with anxiety and her grades did not match her effort.
These scenarios can be confusing for parents and teachers as they see how bright their child is, so it does not make sense that they would struggle.
Lily’s Results
For Lily, her executive function skills, which showed up as weaknesses in working memory and processing speed, were weak. These skills are critical, especially as students advance to the more difficult and demanding grade levels.
Lily shared, “I had a lot of difficulty focusing on schoolwork and completing my work even when I put forth a lot of effort.” This is a frustrating scenario and one that usually results in lower serf-esteem and confidence. Even though Lily was smart, she did not feel smart. Her parents would encourage her and let her know how bright she was, but it didn’t make a difference as this was not Lily’s day-to-day experience. Lily enjoyed her LearningRx training and worked hard.
Over time her skills started improved as did her academics. Once she completed the program – her weakest skills of working memory and processing speed – shot up significantly to match her reasoning skills. This unlocked her ability to stay on task and complete her work as she was now thriving! Lily shared:
“Every little thing in my day-to-day life feels easier. Doing everyday tasks no longer takes so much mental energy that I can’t do anything else. I’m happier and more confident in my ability to try new things without being afraid to fail. I’m more motivated and productive in my day-to-day life.
Executive Function Can Be Improved
If your child is smart but struggling, executive function can be improved and the key is to identify the root cause and address it. At LearningRx, we are not providing tips, coaching or strategies to improve executive function, we are strengthening the skills that unlock executive function!
To learn more about how LearningRx can help with executive function, organizational skills and attention, call LearningRx Savage today.
