Working Memory - The Whiteboard Section of the Brain

Okay, let's have a little chat about working memory and how it can impact our ability to work with the written word. 

Why?

Because working memory plays a huge part in the day to day functions of literacy! When there are working memory challenges, common for kids with dyslexia, we need to be savvy and know how to support our kids so that they can be successful. 

So, what exactly is working memory?

Working memory is like your brain's personal whiteboard, where you can jot down and hold information temporarily. It's like a temporary note that you need in the moment to use to complete a bigger task.

For example, think of when you are online and you are trying to log into a website. The website directs you to your phone to receive a security number to log into your online account. Imagine there is no copy and paste and you have to temporarily remember this number.

You read the number, "write it" into your working memory, go back to the page where you need to enter the number, type the 'held' number into the required space and then the moment that that information is not needed anymore, you forget it, or it gets 'wiped' from your working memory. 

Now, let's check out how working memory relates to learning to read and write.

When we read, beginning readers need to look at a symbol (letter) and then relate that symbol to a sound and then work on blending the sounds together to read the word.

But for kids with dyslexia, their working memory might not be very strong. It's like their ink in their whiteboard is 'magic' and fades after a few short seconds, rather than remaining for as long as we need the information. 

Therefore, by the time they have worked out all of the sound in a row, they have forgotten the first few sounds, as they have been wiped from the working memory, making putting those sounds together impossible. Then they have to start all over again. Frustrating, right? This is just one of the reasons why dyslexic kids work so much harder than non-dyslexic kids. This can be totally exhausting!

Writing can also be a huge hurdle because it involves many different skills, like spelling, grammar, and handwriting. For kids with dyslexia, their working memory might struggle to keep all these tasks in mind at once. It's like trying to multitask without enough room on the brain's whiteboard. Sometimes, they even forget what they wanted to write because their working memory is busy keeping track of other things. 

So what can we do to help our kids with this?

There are ways we can lend a helping hand and support our kids. The most important part is understanding how the brain works and putting supports in place so that we can help our kids thrive to their fullest potential. 

Depending on the task, writing scaffolds, checklists, step-by-step guides and a break down of required tasks into smaller, manageable chunks can help our kids manage with success. Creating routines can also help them stay organised in day to day because working memory plays a role in all aspects of their lives, not just literacy. Think of supports as using permanent markers on whiteboards so that they can use the information to create automaticity with what they are doing so that the brain is freed up to do other things.

By understanding how working memory affects reading and writing, we can help our kids succeed! So, let's cheer on our dyslexic kiddos, offer a helping hand, and create a world where every kid can thrive.