Executive functioning is a term used to describe a broad set of cognitive skills that, when working properly, allow students to manage impulses, work in a deliberate and thoughtful manner, and organize their time and materials. When there are deficits in the development of these skills academic performance can be affected. For professionals working with students who have special educational needs, it is imperative that they also consider whether or not the student is displaying age-appropriate executive skills; additional assessment and intervention may be necessary. This workshop will begin by defining the term executive functioning using clear, easy-to-understand terms, but the majority of the time will be spent describing concrete strategies that can be utilized. This session is aligned with the Instructional Strategies component(s) of the TEA-required self-assessment.