Skip to main content

100 Powerful Learning Specialist and Educational Therapy Materials

This week I wanted to tell you about my online store, Good Sensory Learning. I’m Dr. Erica Warren, and I established this site so I could share all the materials that I have created over the last 20+ years as a learning specialist and educational therapist. When I first began my private practice, Learning to Learn, I had great difficulty finding fun and multisensory materials for my students that were effective and engaging. So back in 2005, I made it my mission to design and distribute high-end, remedial products as well as memorable, motivating lessons that bring delight to learning. If you would like to try a free sampling of my activities , CLICK HERE . How Are the Products Organized at Good Sensory Learning? You can download my Free Printable Catalog or you can browse the site using the grey “search all products” bar in the top right of any page with keywords such as dyslexia, working memory, and executive functioning. What’s more, drop down menus in the red banner allow you t

What Do Working Memory Problems Look Like in Kids?

With working memory reported to be the number one indicator of academic success, it's surprising that most teachers and parents know little about it. Working memory is like a mental dry erase board where we post information until we need to use it in short-term memory.  This information is accessible through one's inner visualizations as well as one's inner voice.
working memory problems
There are a Number of Misconceptions about Working Memory:
myths about working memory problems
1) Myth: Kids with a weak working memory have ADHD or other learning disabilities.
1) Truth: Some kids just have a weak working memory that doesn't warrant a diagnosis of ADHD or a learning disability.

2) Myth: Kids with a weak working memory can't remember what they learn.
2) Truth: Memory strategies & exercises can bypass and remediate a weak working memory.

3) Myth: Kids with a weak working memory always have problems with executive functioning skills.
3) Truth: Working memory is only one small part of executive functioning. To learn more about executive functioning CLICK HERE.

4) Myth: Kids with a weak working memory have a hard time developing this skill.

You Might Have Working Memory Problems if You:
    Working memory symptoms
  1. forget needed materials at home and at school.
  2. require prompts to complete homework.
  3. need to re-read text.
  4. have difficulties memorizing math facts.
  5. have trouble comprehending a story.
  6. have trouble remembering how to use grammar and sentence structure.
  7. have difficulty following multi-step directions.
  8. have trouble completing complex assignments.
  9. struggle doing mental math.
  10. need for more time and repetition.
What are Three Ways to Improve Working Memory?
The best way to improve working memory is to help kids become aware of their own cognition and take an active and present role in the learning process. One can nurture this by:
    working memory solutions
  1. Exercising working memory and
    1. using highly structured and organized materials and tools such as those present in Planning Time Management and Organization for Success and The Ultimate, Mindful and Editable Planner/Agenda
    2. doing exercises such as those present in the Working Memory and Hemisphere Integration Bundle and Following Directions Bundle.
    3. playing games that exercise working memory such as those presented in the Executive Functioning Games Bundle.
  2. Developing learner's capabilities to visualize.  I offer both PowerPoints and fun activities that help to develop this skill.  To learn more CLICK HERE.
  3. Managing one's inner voice.  I offer a blog that can tell you more about developing this skill as well as task cards
Providing fun and engaging activities that require working memory such as Red Light, Green Light can help. However, ready-made activities that specifically exercise working memory can save time and focus an intervention plan. Come download some FREE SAMPLE ACTIVITIES. Also, if you would like to learn about all my multisensory tools that develop working memory, CLICK HERE.

Cheers, Erica
Dr. Erica Warren is the author, illustrator, and publisher of multisensory educational materials at Good Sensory Learning and Dyslexia Materials. She is also the director of Learning to Learn and Learning Specialist Courses.

· Blog: https://learningspecialistmaterials.blogspot.com/
· YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/warrenerica1
· Podcast: https://godyslexia.com/
· Store: http://www.Goodsensorylearning.com/ & www.dyslexiamaterials.com
· Courses: http://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/
· Newsletter Sign-up: https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/69400

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

10 Free Ways to Improving Visual Tracking for Weak Readers

While reading, tracking across the page from one line to the next can be tricky when the text is small, but for students with dyslexia or weak reading skills, it can be a problem regardless of the font size.  So why is this the case?  Perhaps one of the problems is poor tracking skills. What Exactly is Tracking? Tracking is the ability for one's eyes to move smoothly across the page from one line of text to another. Tracking difficulties happen when eyes jump backward and forward and struggle to stay on a single line of text.  This results in problems such as word omissions, reversals, eye fatigue, losing your place while reading and most importantly it can impact normal reading development.   Can Tracking be Improved? Tracking can be improved by strengthening eye muscles as well as getting your eyes and brain to work cooperatively.  There are three eye movements that need to be developed:   Fixations: The ability to hold one's eyes steady without moving

Do I have dyslexia - Explaining Symptoms and Myths for Kids

What do you do when you learn that your child has dyslexia? Should you hide this diagnosis to protect them from labels and misunderstandings, or should you tell them? If you do decide to tell them, how do you do this? Can you help them to overcome any potential fears or misunderstandings? These are the questions that I will answer in this blog that includes kid-friendly graphics. What are the Benefits of Telling Your Child That He or She Has Dyslexia? Educating your child with dyslexia about the common signs and misconceptions can help them to: understand that they learn in a different way than other kids that don’t have dyslexia.  shed negative labels such as stupid, careless, unmotivated and lazy. correct any misunderstandings. identify with other successful people that have or had dyslexia. acquire the needed intervention and instruction in school. learn that many people with dyslexia have strengths that others do not have. Individuals with dyslexia are often: great

Teaching Students Metacognitive Strategies Improves Grades

We are living in an information, distraction-rich time and multitasking seems to be a common way of navigating the complexities of reality. Our youth have grown up observing their parents juggling multiple responsibilities at one time while they have also been immersed in the modern-day influx of technology. As a result, many young learners have applied their observations to academic endeavors, and homework is often completed while laying prey to constant interruptions from social media, online video chatting, texting, television and more. Although there is some utility in life to being able to multitask, the learning process is hindered when attention continually shifts. In contrast, to this multitasking approach to learning is metacognition, and this can play a critical role in successful learning. How Can Students Learn to Do Schoolwork with Greater Efficiency? The foundation to instructing students how to maximize their learning potential is teaching them metacognitive strat