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Working Memory and Learning
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Working Memory and Learning
A Practical Guide for Teachers



January 2008 | 144 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Dr Tracy Alloway has been awarded the prestigious Joseph Lister Award from the British Science Association.

'The authors have written a guide for practitioners that is both highly practical, and yet based upon sound theoretical principles….This book achieves a successful, yet often elusive, link between theory, research and practice, and deserves to have a high readership. I will have no hesitation in recommending it to a range of readers' - Jane Mott, Support for Learning

'This book fulfils its aim to explain working memory and the limits it places on children's classroom learning. For teachers it gives a very clear guide and fills a gap in understanding that can only lead to more child-centred approaches to teaching and learning' - Lynn Ambler, Support for Learning

'A clear and accessible account of current theory and research, which is then applied to children's learning in the classroom....The range of strategies...are well grounded in theory derived from research and sit within a coherent conceptual model' - The Psychologist

'An easy to read yet informative book that explains the concepts clearly and offers practitioners ways to support those with poor working memory in the classroom' - SNIP

`The topic of working memory nowadays tends to dominate discussions with teachers and parents, and both groups can helpfully be directed to this easy-to-read but serious text … (it) is likely to prove a turning-point in the management and facilitation of hard-to-teach children. In a situation muddied by ever-multiplying syndromes and disorders, this book delivers a clarifying and reassuring isolation of the major cognitive characteristic that cuts across all the boundaries and leaves the class teacher and SENCO empowered. I think very highly of the book and shall be recommending it steadily' - Martin Turner, Child Center for Evaluation and Teaching, Kuwait

Susan Gathercole is winner of the British Psychological Society's President's Award for 2007

A good working memory is crucial to becoming a successful learner, yet there is very little material available in an easy-to-use format that explains the concept and offers practitioners ways to support children with poor working memory in the classroom.

This book provides a coherent overview of the role played by working memory in learning during the school years, and uses theory to inform good practice.

Topics covered include:

- the link between working memory skills and key areas of learning (such as literacy & numeracy)

- the relationship between working memory and children with developmental disorders

- assessment of children for working memory deficits

- strategies for supporting working memory in under-performing children

This accessible guide will help SENCOs, teachers, teaching assistants, speech and language therapists and educational psychologists to understand and address working memory in their setting.

 
What Is Working Memory?
 
Working Memory in Childhood
 
Working Memory and Learning
 
Children with Working Memory Impairments
 
Children with Short-Term Memory Impairments
 
Working Memory in Children with Developmental Disorders
 
Assessing Working Memory
 
Supporting Learning in Memory-Impaired Children

'The authors have written a guide for practitioners that is both highly practical, and yet based upon sound theoretical principles….This book achieves a successful, yet often elusive, link between theory, research and practice, and deserves to have a high readership. I will have no hesitation in recommending it to a range of readers' - Jane Mott, Support for Learning

'This book fulfils its aim to explain working memory and the limits it places on children's classroom learning. For teachers it gives a very clear guide and fills a gap in understanding that can only lead to more child-centred approaches to teaching and learning' - Lynn Ambler, Support for Learning


Accessible and clear. Full of information and the glossary at the back of the book is very useful. This book is a very useful guide for study and for developing CPD. 'Points to Remember' at the end of each chapter provide useful summaries.

Mrs Irene Scott
Faculty, Chester University
April 13, 2015

Clearly written and informed by the latest reserch and models of memory

Dr Dominic Griffiths
Faculty of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University
October 6, 2014

Overall, a good reader-friendly book; well laid out with clear diagrams to support text. Like so many books on working memory there is little in the way of recommended strategies. However, what sets this book apart from others is that it covers aspects often not covered in other books, such as distinguishing between different types of working memory. Very useful for anyone wanting to read about the effects of working memory problems on learning.

Mrs Linda Crittenden
Learning Support, Mid Kent College of Higher & F.E.
December 4, 2013

A useful text for those students exploring issues relating to cognition as part of their extended studies.

Mrs Helen Lewis
Education , University of Wales, Trinity St David
September 6, 2012

useful for completeing aspects of the first assignment and very good background reading

Mrs Diana Sutton
The Heath View Centre, Manchester Metropolitan University
September 12, 2011

I liked the accessibility of this book. Susan Gathercole is an important researcher in this area but has distilled her considerable knowledge into this concise publication. The Glossary at the back of the publication is very useful and informative, even for someone with more extensive knowledge of this area. This publication is highly recommended for CPD and other development activities undertaken with educators by, for example, Educational Pyschologists.

Dr David Armstrong

Dr David Armstrong
Education , Edge Hill University
October 4, 2010

perfect for practitioners - practical and easy to understand

Dr Annmarie Urso
School Of Education, Suny College at Geneseo
March 17, 2010

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter One PDF


For instructors

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