[senco-forum] Dyslexia Assessments

Working memory provides the capacity to retain information for a short time,
while actively processing or working with it. Yes I think that this can be
developed. I agree with Martin that other cognitive skills support the
improvement: attention levels are obvious; the better you pay attention the
better the working memory. In terms of sequencing; we see as kids master the
concepts their ability to follow the sequences and remember them improves.
By contrast poor listening accuracy plays havoc with memory and with
attention (often attention and listening accuracy are mixed up).

Practice will improve skills. We combine the working memory practice with
language skills, eg phonemic awareness with memory, high/low minimal pairs
with increasing numbers of sequences, language comprehension with
increasingly long sequences etc. We see kids improve their ability to retain
and work on information all the time.

Working memory can be measured. Tests like the CTOPP Phonological Memory
Composite based on memory for digits and nonword repetition.
Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement- Revised (WJ-R) a part measures
phonological memory. Other tests are available.

I don't think that rehearsal will necessarily improve working memory, the
sequential tasks get too complex and rehearsal provides a limited coping
strategy. So as students move from sentence comprehension to paragraph
comprehension rehearsal will be of limited value.

I agree with you about the use of computers, the kids find it much more
engaging. You should combine the language and reading tasks with the
cognitive developments in the same task. Then a good computer system will
give you evidence by allowing you to track the results of language, reading
and cognitive skills and you can fine tune your teaching accordingly. And
you can use the measures to motivate the kids.

I hope that helps

John
www.neuron-learning.co.uk.