Executive Function Curriculum
Neurodivergent-Affirming • Hands-On Learning • Flexible Support
Executive functioning is part of everyday life—from getting started and remembering directions to organizing materials, shifting plans, and noticing what helps.
The K&K Studios Executive Function Curriculum helps learners explore these experiences through hands-on activities, meaningful conversations, and real-life practice. Students build an understanding of their own patterns while experimenting with strategies and supports that fit the situation.
Explore individual units below. More units will be added as the curriculum grows.
Let’s Get Curious About What Helps
Getting stuck gives us something to investigate.
Maybe the directions are unclear. Maybe there are too many steps, the room is distracting, or getting started feels overwhelming. Sometimes a learner needs movement, more thinking time, or someone to work alongside them.
Join Dareold in noticing what is happening, exploring what might help, and trying one manageable adjustment. Learners have a voice in choosing their supports—and room to change their approach as they discover more.
-
Understand Everyday Executive Functioning
Explore how executive functioning shows up during learning, routines, and everyday activities. Scenarios, discussion, and hands-on exploration help learners connect ideas with their own experiences.
-
Notice What Affects Access
A familiar skill can take different amounts of effort in different situations. Learners investigate how the task, environment, body needs, feelings, and available support influence what feels manageable.
-
Experiment With What Helps
Choose something worth trying, notice what happens, and adjust. Learners practice using strategies and supports in meaningful situations while building a clearer understanding of what works for them.
Explore the Curriculum Units
Each unit focuses on a connected part of executive functioning, with opportunities to explore, discuss, practice, and reflect.
Begin with Foundations for an introduction to executive functioning and access, or explore Task Initiation when getting started is your current focus. Choose a starting point that fits your learners and revisit helpful ideas along the way.
Additional units will be added here as they become available.
-
Executive Functioning Foundations
Explore Unit 1 - FoundationsUnit 1 • Grades 3–6
Build a shared understanding of executive functioning through four connected instructional cycles. Learners explore everyday executive function demands, notice their own patterns, investigate what affects access, and begin building a personal Strategy Toolbox.
Hands-on activities, scenario cards, interactive mats, and reflection tools support curiosity about how each learner experiences different tasks and situations.
-
Flexible Ways to Learn and Participate
Make space for conversation, movement, visual supports, and different ways of sharing ideas. Learning can include talking, pointing, sorting, drawing, writing, dictating, or using AAC.
Adjust the pace, revisit useful activities, and keep supports available. Progress can mean recognizing a barrier, asking for help, choosing a useful tool, or finding a more manageable way to begin.