Read This! Adapted from How to Strengthen Executive Functioning: A Model for Improving Focus, Working Memory, and Flexibility
As a parent, you may have noticed your child struggles with staying focused, remembering instructions, managing their time, or handling unpreferred tasks. These difficulties are often signs of weak executive functioning (EF)—a set of skills the brain uses to plan, focus, remember, and shift between tasks.
That’s why I created the Integrated Executive Function (IEF) Model—a research-informed, practical, and deeply relational framework that helps students strengthen their executive functioning skills and apply them across school, home, and life.
In this blog post, I’ll explain what the IEF Model is, why it works, and how you can hire an educator to implement it with your child.
What Is the Integrated Executive Function Model?
The Integrated Executive Function (IEF) Model is a five-part teaching approach that builds a student’s executive functioning by embedding strategies into real academic work. The five core teaching routines are:
- Rapport – Build trust and connection between the educator and student.
- Assessment – Identify strengths and challenges using cognitive tools.
- Instruction – Teach students about their brains and how EF impacts learning.
- Strategy Development – Apply targeted strategies to real assignments using a “I do, we do, you do” method.
- Recall & Independent Use – Reinforce strategy use until it becomes automatic.
This approach doesn’t just teach a student what to learn—it teaches them how to learn, and it helps them apply that learning over time, in and out of the classroom.
What Is Executive Functioning (EF), and Why Does It Matter?
EF includes three core areas:
- Focus – Sustain attention, ignore distractions, and stay on task.
- Working Memory – Hold and manipulate information in your mind while solving problems.
- Cognitive Flexibility – Shift between tasks or ideas and adapt to new situations.
EF is essential for academic performance, emotional regulation, and life success. Weak EF can show up as disorganization, forgetfulness, procrastination, avoidance, or poor follow-through.
Why the IEF Model Works So Well
The IEF Model is effective because it draws from decades of academic research, particularly in the fields of cognitive science, educational psychology, and executive functioning. Here’s what the research tells us:
- Scripted practice builds EF: The more we list the steps and use EF skills intentionally, the stronger they become.
- Emotion impacts EF: Students need a calm, structured, and relational environment to access and practice EF skills.
- Learning strategies work best in context: EF strategies must be taught through real-life tasks (e.g., writing an essay, studying for a test).
- Strong rapport drives change: Students learn best from educators they trust and connect with.
What an IEF Educator Does
An educator trained in the IEF Model will:
- Assess your child using cognitive tools like the Mindprint Learning Assessment or the Brown Attention and EF Scales.
- Develop a personalized plan to target one or more EF goals (e.g., improve focus during homework).
- Teach, name and record strategies that help your child learn how to start tasks, stay organized, remember information, and tolerate discomfort.
- Reinforce strategy use until your child can apply it independently and across different contexts.
Example: A student who struggles to stay focused through a task might learn the “Visualization” and “2-Minute Drill” strategies – listing and visualizing all steps required to complete the task from start to finish and then focusing for 2 full minutes while executing those tasks – and practice it weekly until they can do it on their own.
Real Strategies That Build Lasting Skills
Some of the strategies taught through the IEF Model include:
- Stoplight Strategy – Categorize problems into “green, yellow, red” to guide effort.
- Five-Minute Start – Get past procrastination by committing to just five minutes of work.
- Visualization Planning – Map out tasks visually to reduce overwhelm.
- Flexible Thinking Practice – Script out how to shift thinking when encountering unfamiliar problems.
- Activation Energy Prep – Break large tasks into small, doable chunks.
Each strategy is taught using the “I do, we do, you do” model to ensure deep understanding and independent use.
How to Hire an IEF Educator
At Evolved Education Company, we train and certify educators to use the IEF Model in their work with students. When you hire one of our IEF-certified educators, you’re ensuring your child will:
- Build skills in a relational, low-stress environment.
- Use strategies that actually stick.
- Receive a personalized learning plan based on their cognitive profile.
- Learn how to manage their responsibilities and become more independent over time.
To get started, simply reach out to us for a consultation. We’ll help match your child with an educator who’s trained in the IEF Model and ready to build a strong, supportive relationship that leads to real growth.
Contact Amy Nathan, Director of Student Services at Evolved Education Company: amy@evolveded.com
Final Thoughts
I created the IEF Model because I saw a gap between research and practice – between what we know helps students and HOW they’re actually being taught. This model closes that gap by putting strategies into action, right where students need them – without having to adjust curriculum or your home environment.
If your child struggles with planning, focus, memory, or emotional regulation, the IEF Model can help them build tools for learning—and for life. Go to www.evolvededucationcompany.com to learn more!
Let’s help your child not just do school better, but learn and live well.
