Why Do My Students Struggle to Take Notes?
n our last newsletter, we explored what working memory is—our ability to take in information, manipulate it, and use it to complete a task. Now, let’s shift our focus to how this essential skill impacts students’ daily academic tasks—and, more importantly, how we can support them in strengthening it.
How Working Memory Affects Students Every Day
Note-Taking: Effective note-taking requires students to listen to the teacher, determine what’s important, and write it down—all while continuing to process new information. One of my favorite tools for supporting working memory in note-taking is Notability. This app allows students to record lectures while jotting down notes. If they miss something, they can mark a star on the page and later revisit the transcribed lecture or audio recording by simply tapping the star.
Study Skills: Working memory is essential for active recall, a proven technique for retaining information. One of my go-to strategies for supporting active recall is Gretchen Wegner’s Anti-Boring Study Cycle. If you work with students and aren’t familiar with her approach, I highly recommend checking it out!
One of my favorite tools for supporting students with writing is Inspiration. This program provides templates, idea organizers, and other features to help students structure their thoughts effectively.
Planning: Generating ideas, recalling relevant information, and organizing thoughts.
Content Creation: Remembering vocabulary, grammar rules, and structuring sentences.
Transcribing: Holding letter formation, spelling, and keyboarding skills in mind while writing.
Final Thoughts
Understanding and supporting working memory is crucial for student success. By incorporating tools and strategies that strengthen this executive function, we can help students navigate academic challenges more effectively.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to support students with executive function skills, stay tuned for future insights and strategies!
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