To remember a date, item, or event is one of life’s greatest treasures.  Whether it’s a birthday, favorite scene from a movie, or a moment of sheer happiness, remembering is our way of holding onto what’s important.  In the classroom setting, remembering is not only pleasant, it’s vital.  Let’s then take a closer look at memory and methods for improving memory storage. 

    The process for storing vital details can be summarized in a 3-step process.  Information presented is processed and then stored in short-term memory.  Here prioritizing, sorting and discarding are all essential.  Based on the data presented by Paula Moraine M.Ed. 99 percent of the information presented is discarded by the short term memory.  The active working memory acts as a link in connecting the short and long term memory.  Generally, up to seven items can be processed in active working memory.  Long term memory is where facts and details are stored for long term retrieval.  The number of pieces of information that can be stored here are limitless. 

    The memory experiences each individual encounters varies.  Providing tools and strategies that are “just right” must be based on individual memory systems.  I have selected a few of these systems and offer study strategies to enhance student’s learning opportunities.     

                   Visual Memory
                             Those that store memories based on content viewed have a strength in the visual memory system.  To facilitate learning processes for those with visual memory strengths, I suggest using video demonstrations encapsulating dates, techniques and processes previously presented.  Kahn Academy is a great resource in this domain.  This site contains video tutorials on topics including math, art, sciences and more.

                   Motor Memory
                             This memory system relies on action and performance.  Many learners that fall within the parameters previously described as right brain learners demonstrate strength in motor memory systems.  I would recommend visiting my Pinterest page at www.pinterest.com/tutorwise for strategies for these learners.  There are games, sensory experiences and various tactile activities for these students.

                   Sequential Memory
                             This memory system relies on the retention of the order of items.  For students studying events in history, battles in the Civil War, or sequencing story events, I recommend creating a timeline to facilitate the retention of essential details.  The website ReadWriteThink offers a tool to create, save, and later retrieve timelines created.         

                    Declarative Memory                            
                                Information stored for speaking and writing relies on the declarative memory system.  For those with a strong declarative memory system, I recommend using Twitter to provide an authentic outlet for communication.  This site provides learners with information relating to world events, current trends, and celebrations.  It will help to strengthen the student’s sense of self as they communicate and receive feedback on their ideas.  I would love to connect with students and their families at twitter.com/tutorwise.    

    With these ideas in mind, I would enjoy learning more about your opinion.  What memory system is predominate for you and/or your child?  What tools and strategies have you found to enhance the learning process?  I look forward to hearing your insights!

      With the implementation of the Common Core, increased demands are being placed on children to produce high quality writing.  Despite children’s best efforts, the content may be overlooked due to the presence of reversals, lack of spacing, and random capitals interspersed throughout their writing.  While I have seen teachers use a multitude of methods to guide children in correcting these mistakes, the strategies implemented often only offer a temporary fix or teach a reliance on a tool to compensate.

      Let’s take a closer look at the mistakes children can make in their writing.  I will then offer a solution to train children’s brains to eliminate these errors and increase writing production.

      The conventions of writing can be challenging for students.  Beyond age 8, some students continue to struggle with distinguishing b and d in reading and writing.  This behavior in turn impacts their comprehension and readability of their written work.  Others may write words as one continuous unit as opposed to incorporating spaces between words in their sentences.  I have seen students incorporate capital letters randomly throughout their stories as well. 

      While all of these behaviors may distract the reader and interrupt the flow of writing, these behaviors tell a much deeper story.  While observing a student writing, whose work contained these traits, I noticed many of her letters including t’s, b’s and y’s were formed beginning at the bottom.  While this method is not inherently wrong, the amount of effort and stamina required exceeds that needed by beginning at the top.  Also, for letters including p and q, requiring the student to cross the given line, she stopped at the line.  Thus indicating neural misfiring, causing many of the writing characteristics described earlier.    

      How can these neural pathways be strengthened thus eliminating many of the earlier described behaviors?  Tutor Wise offers clients brain training sessions specifically targeting children’s production of written work.  This program is designed to strengthen the neural pathways and in turn makes writing easier for children.  The end results in an improvement in the quality of children’s writing and an increase in their confidence.  Contact us today to find out more about how our services can assist your child in the process of becoming a better writer!

    With education research suggesting a variety of strategies and techniques for learning, how can you select the best suited strategies for your child? Considering the functions of brain hemispheres and your child’s preference will provide guidance in this area. 
Understanding the hemispheres and the most effective methods for presentation of information is essential in facilitating the learning process.

    The primary methods used in classrooms appeal to eft brain learners.  These
learners assimilate new information into their short term memory through concentration and structured lessons.  This brain hemisphere is responsible for interpreting auditory
information and works with details to synthesize the main idea.  Left brain learners excel on tasks involving logical/analytical processing and understand the nuisances of language with ease.  These traits naturally lend themselves to today’s classrooms in which
lessons are established in a structured format involving rigorous demands of
language.

     The question then becomes what if a child possesses the ability to learn through pictures and colors, understands and thrives when humor is integrated into the lesson and understands the whole idea before breaking it down into essential components? 
These attributes describe many right brain learners.  They learn through movement and visual stimuli.  The right brain hemisphere is responsible for long-term memory and
automatic processing.  Students  that are right brain dominate prefer options when completing a task.  They enjoy environments that are unstructured. 
 
     With a basic idea of the brain hemispheres and their role in the learning process, how can you better equip your child to excel in the classroom?  I believe a strengths
focused approach is ideal.  Praising and emphasizing your child’s strengths is essential. 
As I previously shared, for students with a right brain preference, visuals are key. Developing interesting stories and pictures to accompany challenging spelling words will assist in recall. For instance, while working with a first grader on the word city, I created buildings and streets integrating each letter of the word.  I then went on to explain that all the individuals in the city had a special power, they could fly.  The use of visuals can be extended to math facts as well.  These methods provide right brain dominate children with the “hooks” needed to improve their recall.  On the contrary, left brain dominate child learn best through activities involving the structure and practice. 
Therefore, spelling activities requiring them to write words several times using paint, markers, and/or scented colored pencils are fun ways to create memorable learning experiences.  Left brain learners would benefit from audio books and video lectures on
a specific topic or process.    

     Through careful observation and study, your child’s learning preferences emerge.  Carefully noting these preferences and considering them when supporting instruction at
home will benefit your child.  Whether your child is right or left brain dominate, making learning a memorable and engaging experience is essential in creating life-long learners.