Improving Working Memory
Supporting Students' Learning
- Tracy Packiam Alloway - University of North Florida, USA
Your working memory is the information your brain stores for a short period of time, it is your brain's post-it note so to speak, and how much information you can remember has a huge influence on how well you do at school and beyond.
By developing and improving a child's working memory, you will see improvements in their achievements at school, and in their concentration. Better working memory can be particularly useful to children with conditions where poor working memory is thought to be an underlying factor. Such conditions include:
• dyslexia
• dyscalculia
• speech and language difficulties
• developmental coordination disorders (motor dyspraxia)
• ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
• autistic spectrum disorders
Improving Working Memory, Supporting Students' Learning explains how to spot problems early, and how to work with children to improve their working memory, therefore increasing their chances of success in the classroom. It is packed full of practical strategies to use with students, but it also explains the theory behind these activities.
Underpinned by rigorous research and written in a highly accessible style, this book will appeal to practitioners, parents and students as an essential guide to helping their students reach their full potential.
'The accurate assessment of working memory difficulties and the implementation of appropriate strategies is very pertinent to meeting the learning needs of pupils with special educational needs (SEN). This publication provides practical examples, case studies, tips and pointers to enable practitioners in education to support children and young people to become successful independent learners. Most certainly a worthwhile read for those involved in working with diverse learners' -
Anita Devi, Senior Lecturer, The Centre for Special Needs Education and Research (CeSNER), School of Education,
The University of Northampton
'Intersesting book and clearly presented - found it very useful'
-Ms Karen Freeman, BCPH, Northbrook College Sussex
'This is full of great ideas and very clear explanations. A very useful book indeed'
-Ms Karen Tulloch
Education , St Mary's University College
'This is an excellent book for child psychology'
-Mrs Tracy Costelloe
Childcare/ Special Needs, St. Sheelans College
'A very useful and readable text, which covers both theory and practice. It is essential reading for educational psychologists and for teachers of children and young people'
-Dr Dario Pellegrini, Child and Family, Tavistock Centre
This is an accessible text with background information and practical suggestions. There is an overview of specific learning difficulties and how working memory may impact. A useful text for students and practitioners with an interest in specific learning differences.
Lots of useful information about working memory, but precious little about actually improving it, as the title implies. Nonetheless, helps to give real insight into working memory difficulties.
It is important that all teachers have an understanding of the role of working memory in learning and they will find this a helpful book written in an accessible way. It has some novel features such as the 'try it' boxes which are an excellent way to help the reader to understand. The 'science flash' is another good idea to explain the theory behind the practice, but references to the studies mentioned should be given so that university students can follow them up. The discussion of cognitive profiles of learners with dyslexia and other SpLD's will be of interest to teachers on dyslexia courses.
I am recommending this book to teachers with whom I am presenting INSET relating to neuroeducation, as my own research suggests that memory is an area with which teachers hope to find assistance from neuroscientific developments.
A brilliant, easy to read book, thankyou
I have already submitted feedback on this text some months ago
Intersesting book and clearly presented - found it very useful
This is full of great ideas and very clear explanations. A very useful book indeed
This is an excellent book for child psychology