How Important are Executive Functioning Skills?
Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive skills that are critical for achieving goals and completing tasks. These skills include planning, organization, time management, attention, working memory, and flexibility. In high school, these skills are particularly important for students as they navigate the demands of academic work, extracurricular activities, and social interactions.
Research has shown that students with strong executive functioning skills are more likely to succeed in high school, even if their GPA is not as high as that of their peers. For example, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Oregon found that high school students with stronger executive functioning skills were more likely to graduate and to go on to college, even if their GPA was lower than that of their peers.
One reason that executive functioning is more important than GPA is that it is a better predictor of academic success. GPA is a measure of how well a student is performing in their classes, but it does not take into account a student’s ability to plan, organize, and manage their time. This can lead to a student who has a high GPA but who is struggling to keep up with their responsibilities. On the other hand, a student with strong executive functioning skills may have a lower GPA but be better equipped to handle the demands of high school.
Another reason that executive functioning is more important than GPA is that it is a better predictor of success in the long term. While GPA is an important factor in getting into college and graduate school, it is not the only factor. Employers and graduate schools also look at a candidate’s ability to think critically, solve problems, and work well in teams. These are all skills that are associated with strong executive functioning.
In conclusion, executive functioning is a critical set of skills for high school students, and it is more important than GPA in predicting academic success and long-term success. Teachers, parents, and students should focus on developing these skills in order to help students succeed in high school and beyond.
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