How Smart Thinking Helps Kids in School

Ever noticed how some kids sail through school while others find it tough? It turns out that how kids tackle certain thinking tasks might play a big role in their school success. Researchers wanted to know more about something called executive functions. These are like the brain's control center, helping us plan, stay focused, and manage multiple tasks. They tested 132 kids aged 9 to 12 on three tasks: coming up with words, creating designs, and drawing complex shapes. They also considered the kids' age, IQ, gender, and their parents' education level. The researchers scored the tests in two ways. The first way was the usual method, focusing on accuracy and speed. The second way was a new approach, looking at the strategies the kids used. The results were surprising. Both scoring methods were linked to how well kids did in arithmetic and reading, as well as advice given for secondary school. But when IQ was factored in, the new scoring method didn't add much extra information. This suggests that IQ might play a big role in how well kids do in school. However, combining both scoring methods didn't always improve predictions. It only helped for arithmetic outcomes. This means that while both methods have their strengths, they might not always work together to give a clearer picture. So, what does this all mean? It shows that thinking skills do matter for school performance. But it's not just about one type of score. It's about looking at different aspects of how kids think and learn. This could help educators and psychologists better understand and support kids' academic journeys. But here's a word of caution: this study only looked at a specific group of kids. More research is needed to see if these findings apply to a broader range of children.