Scaffolding Executive Function Skills: Preparing Future-Ready Students With Learner Agency

Executive function is one of the most essential skills we can teach our students—it helps them plan, problem-solve, and navigate the world independently. These cognitive processes are critical for fostering purposeful, motivated learners. But here’s the thing: executive function skills don’t just develop on their own. They need to be explicitly taught and scaffolded—for both students and adults.

In this episode, Katie Novak dives into the pivotal role of executive function in education and explains why it’s key to building learner agency. Novak shares personal anecdotes and research-backed insights, highlighting why teaching these life skills is crucial for student success. Plus, she offers three practical, classroom-ready strategies educators can use to scaffold executive function—empowering all learners to reach their full potential.

Whether you’re a teacher, instructional coach, or school leader, this episode offers actionable tips to help you support your students (and maybe even strengthen your own executive function skills along the way!).

Access resources and the transcript from the show: https://www.novakeducation.com/the-education-table-executive-functions