Executive Functions -- How Much Can Your Working Memory Glass Hold?

Why is working memory so important?

Working memory is considered to be a key component in learning.  The ability to hold information in the brain, study it, manipulate it, act on it.... these are all essential "must have's" in order for a child to be successful in school.  Working memory can be compared to your laptop's desktop.  These are the files that you use more than others, you refer to them often -- you may tuck them away for a while, but you are always able to retrieve them with fluidity whenever you may need them.

How can I tell if my student or child has deficient working memory?   Does he/she forget important information that has been taught and re-taught?  Does he appear to struggle when presented with tasks that have too many steps?  Are his written expression assignments 'all over the place'?   Is multi-tasking hard for him/her?  Does he/she avoid complex tasks with multiple steps and perform poorly in those kinds of tasks?

Executive function testing helps us to determine how a student's working memory is performing.  It's an important number to know.  There are accommodations that a student simply must have to be successful in the classroom if his working memory is deficient.   Comparing working memory to a water glass is helpful.   Some folks are born with water glasses that can hold much more than others.  So for the student with a smaller water glass, he will "spill over," become less efficient in his work, and possibly appear to forget what he was taught when his working memory water glass is to full.  If he has language deficits, and his teacher provides all of the information he needs via "talking teaching," he will struggle even more!

Here are some accommodations to consider in the classroom:

Chunk important instructions -- be concise with directions, provide important steps in bits
Write directions down
Follow the teaching practice of teach a little; practice a little; teach a little; practice a little
Visual schedules are important to help with transitions -- many kids can't hold all the information in their minds throughout the day
Make lists and check lists
Use technology
Use graphic organizers for writing assignments and other subjects
Create a project plan for long-term projects, write it down, and check completed steps off
Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse
Divide task into various components and create a checklist of these components

Watch for my new book "Executive Function 'Dysfunction' " published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers to be released in June.  It contains lots of strategies to cope with executive function difficulties!