Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Spring 2025
Abstract
Research shows that game-based interventions can effectively help develop some executive functioning (EF) skills. However, the majority of the interventions previously studied involve specialized and/or expensive games. The author believes that using commonly available word-based digital puzzles to “warm up” students’ brains can lead to improved EF skills, leading to students being more motivated to engage in learning, which in turn promotes greater success in the classroom as well as in life in general. Two adolescent males were studied for five weeks (total of 17 school days) using Merriam-Webster’s Blossom (2025) as an intervention for EF skills at the start of their class period. Various data collection methods were used, all of which pointed to improved EF skills for one of the two students. The second student had mixed results, though he also played other, non-word-based video games outside of class time. The author believes that this study shows gains in EF skills can be made by utilizing quick, freely available word-based puzzles. Educators and parents can therefore be assured that they do not have to spend a lot of time or money on EF skill interventions to see improvements in the classroom and beyond.