Abstract
Executive functioning (EF) refers to higher order thought processes considered foundational for problem-solving. EF has both 'cool' cognitive and 'hot' emotional components. This study asks: (a) what are the relative contributions of 'hot' and 'cool' EF to children's academic achievement? (b) What are the relative contributions of 'hot' and 'cool' EF to learning-related classroom behaviors and observed engagement? (c) Do learning-related classroom behaviors and observed engagement account for the relation between EF and achievement? For a sample of 173 kindergarteners, cool EF predicted math achievement, learning-related classroom behaviors, and observed engagement. Hot EF did not predict any achievement or behavior outcomes when examined concurrently with cool EF. Children's classroom behavior did not account for the relation between cool EF and math achievement, suggesting cool EF and math performance are directly associated.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 337-349 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Early Childhood Research Quarterly |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Academic achievement
- Engagement
- Executive function
- Kindergarten
- Learning-related behavior
- School readiness
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science