Planning & Prioritization

The executive skill of planning/prioritization includes two facets.

The ability to create a roadmap to reach a goal or complete a task

The ability to make decisions about what is important to focus on

Planning

Almost every multi-step activity a person does requires a plan. People with strong EF skills know how to plan out what they will do to, for example, research information about World War II. They may not require this planning to be explicit or written down. They respond to the demands of the task, prioritize what needs to be addressed, and then manage the process effectively. However, those who have weak planning skills may not work effectively or efficiently. Creating a timeline is part of the planning process. For students who lack the ability to plan, tasks with deadlines are faced with dread (and oftentimes just before the deadline arrives).

Prioritization

Students who struggle with prioritizing can't figure out what to focus on. All the information being presented by the teacher seems equally important. They can't figure out which of the multiple demands in their day need to be addressed first, second, third, last or not at all. They struggle to manage competing demands of school, homework, and extracurricular activities. Students who understand where to focus their efforts within a task are able to complete the task more easily and efficiently. Difficulty with prioritizing shows up strongly when students have to write an essay (what goes in the essay; what is extraneous), take notes (was that an important fact?), or evaluate word problems in math for which information is relevant to solving it.

Here are some ideas to consider as you address planning and prioritizing.

Planning and prioritization

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Did you understand the difference between planning and prioritization? *

Sure. Easy enough. I don't see them as separate items. I'm still thinking.

What school tasks/activities would be affected negatively by difficulties in this area? *

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