Growth Mindset + Executive Function = Success

Brittany Probst
Sep 4
2 min read

Like a sapling that takes years and the right nutrients to grow into a tree, students must recognize that learning a skill takes time and consistent work to grow.

For students with learning needs, executive function skills like organization, planning, and time management can feel overwhelming and feelings of defeat can easily creep in, causing. But when paired with a growth mindset students can beat those feelings and thrive.

What is a growth mindset anyway?

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can improve with effort, practice, and the right strategies. In stark contrast with a fixed mindset -- the belief that intelligence is fixed and cannot improve after a certain point -- a growth mindset allows a student to look at a skill and say "I don't know how to do this... yet, but I can learn."

Instead of thinking “I’m just not good at this,” students with a growth mindset say, “I can get better if I keep trying," and tackle skills with an understanding that failure and mistakes are part of the learning process. This perspective helps them embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and build resilience—key skills for both academics and life.

Here are five ways growth mindset strengthens executive function:

1. Willingness to Try New Strategies

Instead of saying, “I’ll never get organized,” a growth mindset encourages students to explore planners, apps, or routines until they find what works.

2. Resilience When Things Get Tough

Executive function growth requires practice. A growth mindset helps students bounce back from mistakes and try again, instead of shutting down.

3. Consistency with Routines

Students who believe effort leads to improvement are more motivated to stick with daily systems—like checklists, timers, or homework routines—that strengthen executive function.

4. Reframing Mistakes as Feedback

Missed a deadline? Forgot an assignment? With a growth mindset, students see these slip-ups as chances to build better systems, not as proof they “can’t” succeed.

5. Confidence that Builds Independence

Growth mindset helps students celebrate small wins, like turning in homework on time. Over time, these wins add up to stronger executive function—and greater independence.

Want to learn more?

Follow our Executive Function + Growth Mindset series as we explore each of these topics in more depth, including how to help foster a growth mindset in your child to help them thrive.

✨ At Aspireon Academic Support

We teach students not just what to learn, but how to learn—pairing executive function coaching with growth mindset strategies. The result? Students who are more confident, capable, and ready to thrive academically and beyond.

📍 Serving families locally in North Carolina and virtually across the U.S.