Strategies to Support Memory & Processing Skills
Pupil Strategies
Some pupils will benefit from adopting some strategies to help them
remember, process and learn large amounts of new information.
These strategies could include:
• Rehearsing and repeating back parts of longer instructions or
information.
• Using pictures to support their understanding.
• Visualising strategies (picturing in their imagination).
• Listing off instructions on their fingers.
• Repeating pieces of information over and over.
• Linking the information to his/her own life and experiences.
• Noting down key points, ideas or phrases, either words or drawing
pictures.
• Being pre-warned to listen out for specific details in class.
• Explaining the information to someone else or discussing it.
This is a long list and the child you are working with may discover that
some of the strategies work better for them than others.
Staff Strategies
Staff working with children who have difficulty remembering and
processing spoken information can try some of these strategies to
support them:
• Call the pupil’s name and make sure that s/he is looking at you
while you are giving instructions.
• Keep instructions or commands short, giving instructions as steps.
You can count items off on your fingers e.g. “get your hat, coat and
bag”.
• Use simple language and repeat where necessary.
• Use visual support such as signs in the classroom, pointing to them
when you are reinforcing a rule. For example, at the water table,
you need to wipe up any spills- adults should point to the picture
that says this so that the pupil can understand and self-direct next
time.
• Repeat back any incorrect words or phrases, emphasising the right
way to say it. Make sure your pupil is looking at you when you are
talking to them.
• Allow extra time for the pupil to process your words and formulate
their spoken response.
• Encourage the pupil to use the strategies on the previous page to
help them remember the spoken information.
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