Automatic recall and executive functioning

[...]the total to calculate changes each time two different cards are selected. The boss is being asked to combine two small quantities and their partner is reversing this process; so, in effect they are modelling the relationship between addition and subtraction. 3 + 5 = 8 and 8 - 3 = 5. In relation to the original Boss Person game: 'Inhibitory control' stops the child from making a wild guess or just grabbing and looking at the hidden card; 'working memory' is employed as the child remembers how the game works and that the number of buttons will match the total of the two chosen cards and 'attention shifting and cognitive flexibility', is engaged as the child has to move between the whole quantity and the two part-quantities, as well as shift between being the Boss and the person with X-ray eyes. Switching the focus from child thinking to adult teaching is particularly unfortunate for mathematics, as building positive learning dispositions is essential in order to prevent maths anxiety, as well as to develop children who are confident mathematical thinkers and problem solvers.