Poor Working Memory

[dukester]

Found out this morning that my DD has a poor working memory she has been formally tested for this and she doesn't mange really with any aspect of school work from what I can tell she is streets behind what her sibling were at that age. What support should she now expect at school? She already receives extra support with reading etc and also what can \I do to help her at home she has excellent intentions to do well and work hard bless her she just struggles evrything

Have you been in to see the SENCO to ask what they are doing? If not I suggest that you make an appointment.
At home do you do jigsaws, play board games etc?

how old ? would lists , visual prompts, making written notes and plans help her. Also lots of practice ( ie. spelling, mental maths) and quizzes/puzzles.

Thank you for your reply's. She is a very immature ten. I spoke to her teacher yesterday and they haven't had a chance to read the report yet so her IEP will not have changed. The senco said they had only just received the report so will have to give them chance to act on it.
We don't actually play board games in the evening I work nights so time in the evening is a bit limited But this is going to have change and am off out shortly to invest in a couple of jigsaws.
I think lists and visual prompts would be a great idea I was thinking of a diary for school that she could maintain herself though her writing is off a poor standard so maybe that would be a bit much. Am also going to do a timetable for home of things like spelling practice, memory games etc. She has only one year left in primary school I really have to turn things around for her and get her some coping strategys. Thank god i requested further assessment.

Presumably this impacts on her processing speed . If so they may be able to apply for access arrangements (ie extra time) for tests like SATs and GCSEs

Thanks I will look in to that she has to sit an admissions test for a secondry school soon I just don't think she will manage to complete the test am hoping to get her in with her additional needs and am hoping this may add some weight to the argument and she can have longer to complete the test

My child was diagnosed with poor working memory too. First step is to make sure she sits at the front of the class, close to the board, and close to the teacher. She should get extra time for senior school exams (unless the rules have changed AGAIN!), and I believe there is new computer software for schools aimed at improving a child's working memory. From what I remember they have to spend half an hour a day on the computer for a fortnight, and from what I've heard, it does have positive results for some.

This is probably what you have heard about tigerella:

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-7687.2009.00848.x/ful

Ds (year 7) has just started an IT based training package at school for this half term called Cog-Med. It's half an hour a day for 5 weeks and is supposed to have excellent results. I can't comment on its efficacy yet as he's only just started and I have no idea how much it costs. Will let you know if I find out any more.

Forgot to say - he has never been officially tested for working memory (has an Asperger's diagnosis) but he certainly demonstrates evidence that match the diagnosis!

Just looked at the cogmed site and it looks like there are free trials currently available to all schools. Worth a look.

I've used CogMed with one of my classes - I found it hard to directly attribute any improvement to the daily use of CogMed but I do know that the main child for whom I'd sought out CogMed benefitted from it because he felt as though his memory improved and was much more confident at giving memory-related things a go.

I'd give it a go but be aware that it may need you to sit with your DD if her concentration is very poor - I had a couple of children who spent the time clicking random things just because they could ...until myself or a TA sat next to them!

Ds said today (third session over) - 'it's really hard, Mum, my memory's not very good,' to which I replied, 'Well, if it were, you wouldn't be doing the programme, would you?' Very bright, he is, but not always fully switched on!

Thanks for all the replies am going to look into that cog Med and suggest it to the teacherx