In continuing the hot topic of Executive Function in regards to preparing children for kindergarten, according to H. Lee Swanson, PhD with the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Riverside, says “Use your child’s preferred way of processing information. If your child is strong with verbal (auditory) or visual-spatial working memory,” he suggests taking information from a math word problem and inserting it into a visual diagram. This uses a strength to help solve a problem.
For an example of this type of word problem, be sure to check out Miss Humblebee’s Academy Word Problems for strengthening Working Memory.
First, have your child listen to Baa, baa, black sheep and then complete our free printable word problem practice sheet.
“Just as with building a muscle, using the skill will strengthen it, making it easier to use in the future” says Matthew Cruger, PhD, neuropsychologist with the Learning and Diagnostics Center at the Child Mind Institute in New York City.
