ABSTRACT
Motivation and task persistence involve setting a goal and sticking with the job until it is completed. Task persistence and motivation are interrelated with other executive functions, including attention, working memory, time management, and self- monitoring. Perseverance in terms of being able to stay focused on long-term goals is one of the last executive functioning skills to develop. However, even in infancy, parents encourage babies to keep trying to master difficult tasks, like turning over and sitting. Using a timer can help a student stay on track but requires motivation to use it properly. Clocks, like the Time Timer, provide a visual to show how much time remains in a session and are helpful to encourage young children to stay on task. Making to-do lists–either by hand or using technology–are a proven way to increase productivity, plus they help foster a sense of accomplishment when things can be checked off the list.
