Category:

Working memory

CPD Made Easy –  Part 1: Working memory

CPD Made Easy – Part 1: Working memory

We’re all familiar with that moment of panic when you realise you have 10 minutes to prepare for a staff INSET and you have nothing. There’s no time to scan the internet and digest the research – you need something now! In this article I’m offering you 5 zero prep ideas for staff CPD. The focus is on dyslexia, but bear in mind that the most impactful CPD focuses on strategies for high quality teaching, which, of course, are helpful for all learners, not just those with dyslexia.

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What happened to Evan’s writing?  

What happened to Evan’s writing?  

In this blog, my guest Tina Coope, Education Executive of PANS PANDAS UK, informs us of a little known, but devastating medical condition called PANS (Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections). Sometimes mistaken for dyslexia, PANS and PANDAS impact executive function and writing. This little known but devastating condition can be supported once identified, and this article seeks to inform educators of the important signs to look for.

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Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Maths: How to identify and help

Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Maths: How to identify and help

In my assessment work, I am often told by learners with dyslexia that the thing they find hardest of all in school is maths. This is no surprise to me: dyslexia impacts working memory, sequencing and processing speed, all of which are needed in abundance for maths. However, it can be befuddling to learners, parents and educators that what is essentially a problem with words (dyslexia) has such a significant impact on maths as well. In this blog, I offer explanation of dyscalculia and dyslexia and how they impact maths differently, as well as ten strategies to support.

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Working Memory – what is it and how can we support?

Working Memory – what is it and how can we support?

In this blog, working memory is compared to a bottle neck, which very easily breaks, especially where there are working memory difficulties. These difficulties often occur with dyslexia, developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia), ADHD, autistic spectrum disorder, developmental language disorder and mental health conditions. Very often both teachers and parents expect children and young people’s working memory capacity to be considerably bigger than it actually is, and it’s alarmingly common for us to unwittingly place unnecessary demands on their working memory. The simple act of evaluating your practice and the learner’s behaviour, and making appropriate adaptations, can be a game changer.

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