A Letter to Teachers about Their "Troublemaker"
When It Feels Like “Too Much”
Why Executive Functioning Matters More Than Ever
Dear Educator,
We see you.
Not because the system is working.
It’s not.
Not because you have every resource you need.
You likely don’t.
Not because every lesson feels magical.
We know it doesn’t.
But because you continue to show up for students in a moment when it would be so much easier not to.
And right now, many of the students in front of you feel unsettled.
Their bodies are tense.
Their emotions are close to the surface.
Their reactions feel bigger than the situation in front of them.
Some days, it shows up as calling out.
Other days, it’s shutdown, tears, anger, or constant movement.
Often, it’s the same few students, again and again.
The ones who get labeled as “troublemakers.”
What If That Student Isn’t Trying to Cause Trouble?
What if what you’re seeing isn’t defiance or disrespect?
What if it’s a nervous system that doesn’t yet feel safe?
A brain that is overwhelmed?
A student who doesn’t yet have the skills to manage everything being asked of them?
Many of the behaviors that exhaust educators most are rooted in executive functioning challenges.
Not because students don’t care.
But because they don’t yet know how to cope.
What Executive Functioning Really Is
Executive functioning refers to the brain-based skills that help us:
regulate emotions
sustain attention
hold information in mind
plan and organize tasks
initiate work
monitor progress and adjust when needed
Most adults use these skills automatically.
Many students (especially those with learning differences, attention challenges, or heightened stress) do not.
And right now, there are a lot of students operating under chronic stress.
Why So Many Students Are Struggling Right Now
For some students, learning itself already requires immense cognitive effort.
A student with dyslexia may be using most of their mental energy just to decode text. A student with ADHD may be working constantly to regulate attention and impulses. A student experiencing instability or anxiety may be operating in survival mode.
When so much effort is spent just trying to stay afloat, there is very little left for executive functioning.
So when a student:
loses materials
reacts strongly to feedback
struggles to follow directions
avoids starting work
talks back
What you’re seeing is not a lack of care. You’re seeing a system under strain.
Why You Matter More Than You Realize
In moments like these, students don’t just need instruction.
They need regulation. They need structure. They need predictability. They need an adult who helps them feel safe enough to try again.
And while you should never have to carry the weight of the entire system, your presence matters more than you know.
You are the steady force when everything else feels loud. You are the calm when emotions run high. You are the person who helps a student borrow regulation until they can build their own.
Executive Functioning Is How Students Reclaim Agency
When we explicitly teach executive functioning skills, we do something so powerful.
We show students:
how to pause instead of react
how to break tasks into manageable steps
how to plan, adjust, and try again
how to notice what’s working and what isn’t
We don’t just manage behavior. We help students experience success. And success builds confidence. Confidence builds agency. Agency builds resilience.
You Don’t Have to Carry This Alone
Remember those giant parachutes from PE class?
Everyone holding the edge together. The colors lifting. And then the moment when everyone hurried inside, sitting together in that strange, beautiful, calm space.
That’s what we want for you.
A place where you don’t have to fix everything. A place where you don’t have to be perfect. A place where structure and support do the heavy lifting.
Inside that space, you are not alone. Inside that space, students can begin to feel safe enough to learn. Inside that space, executive functioning becomes a bridge.
This Is Why Executive Functioning Matters
Not because it’s trendy. Not because you should be trying to add one more thing to your to-do list.
But because it gives students tools to navigate a world that feels overwhelming, and it gives educators a way to support them without carrying it all themselves.
You are enough. Your work matters. And when students feel safe, supported, and capable, real learning can begin.
And if you need some help to get started, we’re here right alongside you. You can download the free 5-Step EF Guide to gain some clarity on one simple step you could implement to help bring calm back to your space. And if that doesn’t make sense for you right now, that’s okay too. We’re here for you whenever you need it.