how to improve ur child's working memory?

[concern2]

Nebbermind:

...And also partly she is not an orderly person by nature, ie, she has higher tolerance for chaos.

:rotflmao: Yes, could be in one's nature.

[barney]

I have the same problems with my P4 dd as well. Low retention on what she learn in school, forgets stuff on daily activities. However, she’s doing sports and has no problem remembering the steps and movements, was even faster than people academically stronger or in higher levels than her. Hence, I attribute it to being focus in the tasks she’s handling and have been lowering my expectations over and over again for our own well being. Now waiting patiently for her to "wake up" to her senses.

[Nebbermind]

Sometimes I wonder what u parents were like during your school days.


I remember we donch always pay attention in class, especially those at the back of the class…some busy catching up on homework. Some lessons were simply boring and painful.

But the good thing was that we had pretty decent school textbooks then and they didn’t test so much beyond.

Back to topic…were u all so hardworking and focus?!!

[concern2]

slmkhoo:

Unfortunately for my daughter, both my husband and I were pretty model students. We were quite hard on my girl in the early years as we thought she was uncooperative and disobedient, but it didn't gel with what we could see of her overall attitude and personality. It was only as we read up more we realised that we really had a 'special' kid on our hands. Helping her through the years (she's 15yo now) has taught me a lot which I never knew about kids who struggle in school and in life.

Reading your post feels like taking in a breath of fresh air.

[iggy]

slmkhoo:

for such kids, parents and teachers do have to cut them some slack and help them find ways to cope. And they also have to be resigned that these kids cannot be high achievers in school as they are not equipped to cope with a lot of classroom interactions and activities and exams.

Agree that we have to accept them as who they are. Unconditional love.

[casio123]

slmkhoo:

Nebbermind:

Back to topic...were u all so hardworking and focus?!!

Unfortunately for my daughter, both my husband and I were pretty model students. We were quite hard on my girl in the early years as we thought she was uncooperative and disobedient, but it didn't gel with what we could see of her overall attitude and personality. It was only as we read up more we realised that we really had a 'special' kid on our hands. Helping her through the years (she's 15yo now) has taught me a lot which I never knew about kids who struggle in school and in life.

I have two special kids. I only realise it when my DS2 was in P1. Which trigger me to asess my DS1 who were also diagnosed with ADHD. It is very tough. But as time passes I learn to accept it.

[bebe]

slmkhoo:

There are different types of memory too. Your daughter may remember things she learns in a more physical way, but not through hearing, for eg. My daughter remembers what she reads much better than what she hears, so she also has trouble remembering what teachers say. You might want to help her find ways to use the things she does well to remember info delivered by a different mode.


I do agree that many kids are forgetful, inattentive etc and still well within the normal range. I don't know about 24hr-mum's daughter, but mine is out of the normal range, unfortunately. We were told by the educational psychologist that she was unable to give an IQ result because the working memory and processing speed scores were too low compared with other elements in the test.

To give some examples, my daughter has very poor memory for info given verbally. You can ask her to do 2 things, and she will forget one or both within seconds! Carrying on a conversation with her takes a lot of patience (which most people don't have) as you have to wait as long as 5-10 seconds before she replies to each question, and sometimes the reply is \"What did you say?\" She is not rude or purposely inattentive, although we scolded her a lot in earlier years because we didn't realise her problems, but she really can't process or 'hold on' to the info. For such kids, parents and teachers do have to cut them some slack and help them find ways to cope. And they also have to be resigned that these kids cannot be high achievers in school as they are not equipped to cope with a lot of classroom interactions and activities and exams.

Sound like my P4 gal..she has weak auditory processing skills, and has difficulty retaining verbal instruction. If you give her instruction, you have to break them into \"first, do this, 2nd step, do that, 3rd, this...\"..no more than 3 steps..cos she will get all confused and upset (not only her, all of us). Listening compre is her weak area..even though I ask her to listen to radio, she said they speak to fast. She only enjoys the music and songs.

And when come to study, I find that she does better if she literally draws out the info, example, she memorises her Chinese Mo xie by drawing comics to illustrate the scene. For Science, mind mapping helps a bit (but she has no interest in Science..that is another story). The tough part is Maths! If you get her to do a topic repeatedly, she can master it, but if you give her the same problem a few weeks later, she will not be able to handle. Hence, weekly revision is very important, but I have to keep nagging her..and if I do not, she will not revise..hence I hv to scold her daily..Routine is important for her..if you mess up the routine, she gets insecured and upset.

Sometimes I scolded her for being \"irresponsible, lazy, slow, mental block etc\" but I think a part of me is guilty as I do not know what I have not done in her early childhood to \"boast up\" her memory. Would things be different if I had send her to CMA course, those right/left brain training, make sure she eat her omega or scott emulsion, or if I had insisted to breastfeed her longer, or if I had not been stubborn and induced her earlier?? (she was almost 41 weeks and I refused to go for induced labour)

Like concern2, both hubby and I were considered model students (hubby was a late bloomer, but managed to be top scorer for PSLE, O and A level)..getting A and distinction comes naturally to us..and we cannot understand why my gal cannot remember simple 8 or 12 time tables..We had sent her for a dyslexia test screening when she was P2..it was not conclusive but for certain aspects, she shows borderline dyslexic, spoke to her teachers in school and tuition center and we conclude that her processor is slower compared to her peers, and patience (us) + diligence (her) are the keys to do well in school..

Yes, we have resigned to fate that that is her..and not us..she can never be high achiever..so we just do whatever we can, to make sure she do averagely (band 2-3) in school and she can complete her basic education..Her interest lies in drawing and colouring (she is good in copying)...and I told her if she does well in O level, she can go to Poly to pick up any courses of her interest..we will support her..but for now..she still has to study for PSLE and O levels..there is no other ways..

And now SA2 is around the corner..it is such an exasperating time for us in the family...now she is behaving like pre-teens..get moodswing easily and I have a challenging time managing her mood and study... :stupid:

[Imami]

Nebbermind:

Sometimes I wonder what u parents were like during your school days.

I remember we donch always pay attention in class, especially those at the back of the class...some busy catching up on homework. Some lessons were simply boring and painful.
But the good thing was that we had pretty decent school textbooks then and they didn't test so much beyond.
Back to topic...were u all so hardworking and focus?!!

during pri sch time, I played hard and worked the necessary. I paid attention in class and did my homework conscientiously.
During sec sch time, I played hard too. Sec one was a breeze. Sec two recorded my worst performance and attendance. Sec three and four, I was back to my normal form - work the necessary.

[Imami]

slmkhoo:

Nebbermind:

Back to topic...were u all so hardworking and focus?!!

Unfortunately for my daughter, both my husband and I were pretty model students. We were quite hard on my girl in the early years as we thought she was uncooperative and disobedient, but it didn't gel with what we could see of her overall attitude and personality. It was only as we read up more we realised that we really had a 'special' kid on our hands. Helping her through the years (she's 15yo now) has taught me a lot which I never knew about kids who struggle in school and in life.

Oh yes.... I always thought the best teachers are not the best students. My brother was a model student. He worked hard and worked even harder. He never understands why I (and now my nephew and niece) can't grap certain math/science concept. For me, I am never a model student (there us always someone more hardworking, better results etc) but I can emphatise with someone who is lost in transformation, vectors and algorithm.

[Imami]

slmkhoo:

Imami:

[quote=\"slmkhoo\"]
Oh yes.... I always thought the best teachers are not the best students. My brother was a model student. He worked hard and worked even harder. He never understands why I (and now my nephew and niece) can't grap certain math/science concept. For me, I am never a model student (there us always someone more hardworking, better results etc) but I can emphatise with someone who is lost in transformation, vectors and algorithm.

I think it depends more on the teacher's personality than his achievement, although high achievers can often be less understanding to weaker students. Between my husband and myself, he is the much better teacher of Maths even though he topped in Maths all his school life and has a higher degree in Math too. When I find myself losing patience explaining things to my daughter for the nth time, I pass her on to him. He also has a way of seeing where she has reached a mental block and helping her around that which I can't. If he had more time, I would let him do all the Math coaching, but he is too busy to do it daily. I also had an great tutor when I was flunking Maths in JC who was a 1st class hon graduate from a top UK university, and he was really patient and good at explaining Maths to non-math people like me. I clawed my way from an E to an A in 1 year with his help.

[/quote]Yes, I guess you are right - a great teacher is not just good at the subject, he/she should also be able to see where the road block is for a struggling student.