If you are coming here from our "Understanding YOUR Child's Learning Challenges" quiz to learn more about your child’s areas of concern, WELCOME!
Now that you've taken our brief quiz, below is a detailed checklist that will help you confirm if the area identified by the quiz is a significant concern.
If you notice these signs, you may want to consider using the information as we guide you through the steps of requesting an initial evaluation from the school
If you haven't yet taken our quiz
What are Working Memory Weaknesses in Children?
Working memory helps children remember instructions, follow multi-step directions, and solve problems. If a child's mental notepad isn't as strong, they might forget things quickly or have trouble keeping track of steps in a task. This can affect their ability to remember what was just told to them, follow through with instructions, or recall details from a recent event.
Working memory, often likened to the brain's mental notepad, is essential for children to manage tasks like following instructions, solving problems, learning new concepts, maintaining concentration, handling math operations, and understanding reading material. For some children with weaknesses in working memory, this cognitive function can be as fleeting as an image on an Etch-A-Sketch, disappearing the moment they try to recall it. Consider a child who forgets a phone number from the living room to the phone—this is but one small example of the challenges faced by children with working memory issues. Such difficulties can be distressing for parents who see their children struggle to keep up with instructions or retain information. Thankfully, there are effective strategies to improve memory retention, but the key to strengthening a child's weaknesses in working memory is to identify that the weakness exists.
To help you visualize what weakness in working memory might look like and perhaps help you better relate to and understand this learning challenge, we selected a squirrel with an Etch-a-Sketch as the symbol for children with this learning style.
Why we chose a squirrel to describe these students:
Picture a squirrel, busily hiding nuts for the winter, only to forget where it placed them later. Children with working memory challenges, much like forgetful squirrels, may have difficulty remembering instructions or recalling information they just learned, but with the help of memory aids and strategies, they can improve their ability to retain and retrieve important information.
Characteristics of Working Memory Weaknesses in Children: A Parent's Checklist:
To help you understand if working memory might be an area of weakness for your child, we've created a checklist of common signs to look for. It outlines common characteristics and provides real-life examples to illustrate these challenges. It can also guide you in observing your child's behavior and recognizing patterns that may indicate challenges with working memory. This guide can be an essential first step in recognizing the signs of weakness in processing speed and seeking the appropriate support for your child.
Does your child have...?
Difficulty Remembering Instructions:
Forgetting what to do right after being told or asked to do something.
Example: Sarah often forgets what her teacher asked her to do immediately after receiving the instructions, leading to tasks not being completed.
Difficulty Following Directions:
Having trouble remembering and following multi-step directions, like those given in class or during assignments.
Example: John struggles to follow multi-step directions for completing a science experiment, often missing steps or completing them out of order.
Trouble Remembering Information:
Struggling to remember information just heard or read, like details from a story or a list of facts.
Example: David has trouble remembering key details from a story he just read, making it difficult for him to summarize or discuss the text with classmates.
Poor Recall of Past Events:
Having difficulty recalling past events, conversations, or experiences in detail.
Example: Emily has difficulty recalling details from a family outing that occurred just a few days ago, such as where they went or what they did.
Difficulty Remembering Names or Faces:
Forgetting people's names or faces shortly after meeting them, even if they were just introduced.
Example: Michael frequently forgets the names of his classmates shortly after meeting them, even if they were just introduced.
Trouble Keeping Track of Tasks:
Frequently losing track of what tasks have been started or what steps still need to be completed.
Example: Alex often forgets which homework assignments he has already started and which ones he still needs to complete, leading to missed deadlines.
Difficulty Organizing Thoughts:
Finding it challenging to organize thoughts or ideas in a logical sequence when speaking or writing.
Example: Emma struggles to organize her thoughts when writing a story, often jumping between ideas without a clear sequence or structure.
Challenges with Performing Mental Math:
Having difficulty performing mental math calculations, such as adding or subtracting numbers in one's head.
Example: Jason has trouble mentally calculating the total cost of items in his shopping cart, often needing to write down numbers or use a calculator.
Difficulty with Problem-Solving:
Struggling to solve problems that require holding and manipulating information in their mind, such as puzzles or logical reasoning tasks.
Example: Thomas finds it challenging to solve logic puzzles that require him to hold multiple pieces of information in his mind simultaneously, often getting stuck or making errors in his reasoning.
Inconsistent Performance:
Showing variability in performance on tasks that require working memory, with some days being better than others.
Example: Lily's performance on memory-based tasks varies from day to day. Some days, she can remember information well, and other days, she struggles to recall even simple details.
These characteristics can vary from child to child and may not necessarily indicate a problem with working memory on their own. However, if several of these signs persist over time and interfere with daily functioning and learning, it may be worth exploring with a professional whether your child might have weaknesses in working memory. This checklist can be an essential first step in recognizing the signs of working memory weaknesses and seeking the appropriate support for your child.
If you think your child may have a weakness in working memory and is struggling in school, and you're not sure what to do next, contact us at My Happy Teacher to learn more about how we can help.
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