Developing Memory Skills In The Primary Classroom

How can we help children to develop their working memory? The memory demands in the classroom for children are high; they are constantly bombarded by new knowledge in multiple topic areas, given series of instructions to complete and expected to both learn and demonstrate their mastery of knowledge and skills on a daily basis. Developing Memory Skills in the Primary Classroom is a highly practical book that contains all the guidance and resources a school needs to boost their pupils’ working memory. Proven to have a positive impact on pupils, this tried and tested complete programme combines teaching pupils memory strategies with opportunities to practice those strategies within a small group, the classroom and at home. The resources provided by this book include: a variety of photocopiable games and activitiesextensive teaching notesa range of sample letters to parents/carersessential information sheetsbespoke baseline assessment toolsa detailed programme that can be run by a teaching assistant under the guidance of the SENCo. This text provides a clear link between working in the classroom and with parents in the home, making it a one-stop resource for any teacher, SENCo, teaching assistant or parent wanting to help children develop their working memory.

How can we help children to develop their working memory? The memory demands in the classroom for children are high; they are constantly bombarded by new knowledge in multiple topic areas, given series of instructions to complete and expected to both learn and demonstrate their mastery of knowledge and skills on a daily basis. Developing Memory Skills in the Primary Classroom is a highly practical book that contains all the guidance and resources a school needs to boost their pupils’ working memory. Proven to have a positive impact on pupils, this tried and tested complete programme combines teaching pupils memory strategies with opportunities to practice those strategies within a small group, the classroom and at home. The resources provided by this book include: a variety of photocopiable games and activities extensive teaching notes a range of sample letters to parents/carers essential information sheets bespoke baseline assessment tools a detailed programme that can be run by a teaching assistant under the guidance of the SENCo. This text provides a clear link between working in the classroom and with parents in the home, making it a one-stop resource for any teacher, SENCo, teaching assistant or parent wanting to help children develop their working memory.

Dr Tracy Alloway has been awarded the prestigious Joseph Lister Award from the British Science Association. ′The authors have written a guide for practitioners that is both highly practical, and yet based upon sound theoretical principles....This book achieves a successful, yet often elusive, link between theory, research and practice, and deserves to have a high readership. I will have no hesitation in recommending it to a range of readers′ - Jane Mott, Support for Learning ′This book fulfils its aim to explain working memory and the limits it places on children′s classroom learning. For teachers it gives a very clear guide and fills a gap in understanding that can only lead to more child-centred approaches to teaching and learning′ - Lynn Ambler, Support for Learning ′A clear and accessible account of current theory and research, which is then applied to children′s learning in the classroom....The range of strategies...are well grounded in theory derived from research and sit within a coherent conceptual model′ - The Psychologist ′An easy to read yet informative book that explains the concepts clearly and offers practitioners ways to support those with poor working memory in the classroom′ - SNIP `The topic of working memory nowadays tends to dominate discussions with teachers and parents, and both groups can helpfully be directed to this easy-to-read but serious text ... (it) is likely to prove a turning-point in the management and facilitation of hard-to-teach children. In a situation muddied by ever-multiplying syndromes and disorders, this book delivers a clarifying and reassuring isolation of the major cognitive characteristic that cuts across all the boundaries and leaves the class teacher and SENCO empowered. I think very highly of the book and shall be recommending it steadily′ - Martin Turner, Child Center for Evaluation and Teaching, Kuwait Susan Gathercole is winner of the British Psychological Society′s President′s Award for 2007 A good working memory is crucial to becoming a successful learner, yet there is very little material available in an easy-to-use format that explains the concept and offers practitioners ways to support children with poor working memory in the classroom. This book provides a coherent overview of the role played by working memory in learning during the school years, and uses theory to inform good practice. Topics covered include: - the link between working memory skills and key areas of learning (such as literacy & numeracy) - the relationship between working memory and children with developmental disorders - assessment of children for working memory deficits - strategies for supporting working memory in under-performing children This accessible guide will help SENCOs, teachers, teaching assistants, speech and language therapists and educational psychologists to understand and address working memory in their setting.

This highly practical resource has been designed to support working memory and curriculum success in the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 classroom. Working memory is crucial for success in maths, reading, reading comprehension and problem solving, yet children with poor working memory often struggle to meet the demands of everyday classroom activities. Filled with activities and support for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Maths and English, this book offers ideas for the practising teacher on how to make the classroom a place to reinforce memory skills, and to ensure that those with working memory difficulties are included and supported. Key features include: • Information on recognising working memory difficulties • Practical and specific strategies to support learners in the classroom • Graduated activities for Maths and English learners based on the national curriculum The importance of working memory on curriculum success is becoming increasingly evident, with growing emphasis on testing and an ever more demanding curriculum. With photocopiable and downloadable resources, this is an essential book for teachers, teaching assistants and other education staff looking to support working memory with children.

Language for Learning in the Primary School is the long awaited second edition of Language for Learning, first published in 2004 and winner of the NASEN/TES Book Award for Teaching and Learning in 2005. This handbook has become an indispensable resource, packed full of practical suggestions on how to support 5-11 year old children with speech, language and communication difficulties. Colour coded throughout for easy referencing, this unique book supports inclusive practice by helping teachers to: Identify children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) Understand speech, language and communication skills Consider roles and responsibilities at primary school Plan a differentiated and adapted curriculum Consider the language demands across subjects Adopt a whole school approach Make use of a wide range of positive strategies Empower children to access the curriculum Language for Learning in the Primary School comes complete with a wealth of photocopiable resources, giving teachers and teaching assistants the confidence to help children with SLCN more effectively in mainstream settings. It will also be an extremely useful resource for speech and language therapists, specialist teachers and educational psychologists.

It is hard to conceive of a classroom activity that does not involve working memory – our ability to work with information. In fact, it would be impossible for students to learn without working memory. From following instructions to reading a sentence, from sounding out an unfamiliar word to calculating a math problem, nearly everything a student does in the classroom requires working with information. Even when a student is asked to do something simple, like take out their science book and open it to page 289, they have to use their working memory. Most children have a working memory that is strong enough to quickly find the book and open to the correct page, but some don’t – approximately 10% in any classroom. A student who loses focus and often daydreams may fall in this 10%. A student who isn’t living up to their potential may fall in this 10%. A student who may seem unmotivated may fall in this 10%. In the past, many of these students would have languished at the bottom of the class, because their problems seemed insurmountable and a standard remedy like extra tuition didn’t solve them. But emerging evidence shows that many of these children can improve their performance by focusing on their working memory. Working memory is a foundational skill in the classroom and when properly supported it can often turn around a struggling student’s prospects. This book will make sure you are able to spot problems early, work with children to improve their working memory and ensure they reach their full potential. How does the book work? Each of the following chapters includes a description of the learning difficulty (WHAT), followed by an inside look into the brain of a student with the disorder (WHERE), their unique working memory profile (WHY), and classroom strategies to support working memory (HOW). There are two types of strategies: general working memory strategies that can be applied to all students in your class, and specific working memory strategies for each learning difficulty. The final chapter (Chapter 9) provides the student with tools to empower them along their learning journey. The aim in supporting students with learning difficulties is not just to help them survive in the classroom, but to thrive as well. The strategies in the book can provide scaffolding and support that will unlock their working memory potential to boost learning. They are designed to be easily integrated within the classroom setting as a dimension of an inclusive curriculum and used in developing an individualized education program (IEP) for the student. The strategies recommended here can also complement existing programs that support a core deficit, such as a social skills program for a student with autistic spectrum disorder, or behavior modification for those with ADHD. Each chapter also includes: Try It box: Provides the reader with an opportunity to have a hands-on understanding of the material Science Flash box: Gives the reader a snapshot of current and interesting research related to each chapter Current Debate box: Discusses a controversial issue pertaining to the disorder Tracy Packiam Alloway is an award-winning psychologist based at the University of North Florida Ross Alloway is the CEO of Memosyne Ltd, a company that brings cutting-edge scientific research to parents.

Achieving Outstanding Classroom Support in Your Secondary School shows how secondary school teachers and other school staff can work with Teaching Assistants to ensure that classroom support is maximised and an optimum working relationship is developed. Based on research taken directly from the classroom, all recommendations and guidelines explored in this book are based on the findings of those who have consulted Teaching Assistants about their work, in order to better understand the dynamics of classrooms where at least one of the adults present is supporting the other, directly or indirectly. Topics studied include: Understanding the roles and responsibilities of the Teaching Assistant What the research tells us about Teaching Assistants How to plan before the lesson How to involve the Teaching Assistant in the lesson How to provide feedback and advocacy for the Teaching Assistant after the lesson This accessible text provides a highly supportive framework to prompt teachers to be proactive and plan ahead for effective use of their Teaching Assistants in the classroom and will be of interest to all secondary teachers, SENCOs, heads of departments and school managers.

Transforming Reading Skills in the Secondary School is a commonsense text designed to help practitioners working in a mainstream context. The book suggests ways to develop the underlying skills necessary for good reading through multiple pathways such as mainstream subject lessons, individual and small group support sessions, whole school initiatives, the use of reading mentors and home-school liaison opportunities. Brimming with ideas and activities, Pat Guy explores a variety of different aspects of reading, including: how reading is taught and why it is such an important skill for the individual how to motivate the reluctant reader the role played by the mainstream & specialist teacher underlying problems pupils may face how to increase parental involvement reasons why a pupil’s comprehension might be limited the role of the School Librarian the relevance to reading of vocabulary and general knowledge. Anyone wanting to develop the reading skills of secondary pupils who struggle will find this a resource they return to time and time again.