Short Term Memory

[Brenda]

Is short term memory problems a symptom of ADHD?Steph can not remember spelling words.I can spell the word "play" 10 times in a row and then ask her to spell it and she'll say"plpk".I made her write it 5 times and she still couldn't spell it.She can't even spell"are".Is this a symptom of ADHD or could it be something else?I hate helping her do her homework.We end up screaming at each other.She'll write one word and then do a dance move and write another.I get so made at her but I know she can't help it.It's going to get worse because she's only in the 1st grade now.

[jdmom]

Do you honestly think she can't remember how to spell the word, or is she just spitting something out to appease you? I'm asking that because that is what Jarrett does to me sometimes. For instance, last week, he was having trouble with the word "weighed". We went over it and over it....... He didn't want to pay attention and he would just make up letters because I was hounding him to spell it to me. Finally, I got frustrated because we had gone over and over that same da*n word everyday day that week, at least 10 or 12 times a day. I am NOT known for my patience! Anyway, I just finally told him that if he got that word wrong on his spelling test, he would be grounded. He got a 100% .

If you really think that she has a problem, I would definitely look into it. It could be an LD. If you think she just doesn't WANT to do it, try breaking the spelling studying down into smaller periods. Two 15 minute sessions a day or something. I know I've always read that you need to try to get their homework done as early in the evening as possible, but I seem to have more luck with things like reading and spelling when Jarrett is getting ready for bed. I'll get him in bed 30 minutes or so earlier than usual and then sit on the bed next to him and go over his reading and spelling. It's the only time of the day that he is still! (well, almost still anyway...more still than usual )

[catseye]

I cant really help, my sd8 has the same issues, with the simplest words... It is very hard not to get mad, but my getting mad only fused the situation.... Her dad helping, was worse then me trying to help if you can believe that!! LOL

One thing we tried, and it worked when we enforced it, was before sd could play on the computer (insert what your daughter likes here) for 5 minutes, she had to write a word 5 times... This wasnt homework persay, but it helped getting her writing more... I cant say it really helped with spelling though ... Sorry I cant help more, but I will be watching this thread for helpfull advice like a hawk!!

cat

[rosyred45]

I wouldn't necesaril ysay short term memory loss, I would say, NOT INTERESTED TO BEGIN WITH SO WHY SHOULD I LEARN IT.

Seriously, if it doesn't appease to our kids and they don' tcare about it, they won't pay attention to it. Mikey is a great reader, he can tell you a story like no tomorrow, then as soon as it comes to verbal spelling, he's iffy, when it comes to writing. WHO HAS TIME TO WASTE WRTING

That's his mentality, I only know that because it's my husband's too ::)double whammy gee. And for all of that not wanting to write, my husband is an artist.

I think Like JDMOM, if there really is a problem, have it looked at, but maybe she is just testing the waters.

[Angelia]

Brenda,
I have a 9 year old son with adhd and he has a super memory that is how he has compensated for his learning problems. On the other hand I have a 6 year old daughter that is in 1st grade also, and is in gifted and talented classes (she is my super genius) she is just now having spelling test and is struggling with it a bit. So, I think that maybe you need to give it a little bit of time she may still be to young. On another note I have made studying for spelling test in my house fun, because my nine year old is adhd, and is unable to sit down and write them for me in the evening we are creative with it. I do several different things. 1. We have verbal spelling test in the car while we are driving down the road. My nine year old gets his spelling test words, and my six year old I try to give her words that I know she knows like her colors, I, the, and. Simple ones that she will get right, and then I slowly sneak in the harder ones. 2. I will sit down with the spelling list and turn off all tv's and other distractions and let them walk around (usually my son with adhd is flipping around, walking in circles, etc.) and I will start blurting out words and they will spell them back to me. Each one they get right we high five, and make a really big deal out of how smart they are! 3. I will sit down in the kitchen with a bowl of popcorn, cereal. grapes, sometimes even some candy, and each one they get correct I will chunky a piece of food at them. I know that this one sounds crazy like I am feeding a bunch of dogs, but they absolutely love this one the best. They are getting rewarded for good work this away while learning and having a good time. I have learned that when I get stressed with school work how in the world can I expect them to be at ease and learn. It doesn't always have to be so stern to do homework!! Be creative and have fun with it! This away it turns a bad situation into good quality time with your kids!!

[rosyred45]

And there we see Angelia with her kids, mouth s wide open AND AND they get a word wrong :oOPPS, in goes the pop corn for mama ;D

Just kidding, that doesn't sound like too bad of an idea at all, it gets you all involved and they get bedtime snacks at the end of it

[adhdtimes4]

Try writing the word down in big, colored letters, and ask her to memorize how the word looks - "Take a picture of it in your brain." When she can 'see' the word in her head, see if she can read it backwards. This is a technique from the "Right Brained Children in a Left Brained World" book, and I know it has worked with some kids I have taught.

[Brenda]

adhdtimes4 said:

Try writing the word down in big, colored letters, and ask her to memorize how the word looks - "Take a picture of it in your brain." When she can 'see' the word in her head, see if she can read it backwards. This is a technique from the "Right Brained Children in a Left Brained World" book, and I know it has worked with some kids I have taught.

Another teacher told me the same thing this morning.She said to let her see me write the word as I spell it out to her.I hope it works.Her test is tomorrow and she has OT therapy today after school.I hope she has time to learn them.

If she continues to have problems I'm going to have her screened fo LD's.

Thanks

[Angelia]

Rosyred,
That was to funny!! You gave me a well needed chuckle this morning!! See I knew yall would think I was crazy. For chunking food at my children!! LOL!! But I am telling you this one works!! Everyone is laughing and giggling. Where munching on snacks, and learning to spell!!

[rosyred45]

What ever works is GREAT!!!!!

And I was explaining this to my husband, he laughed, not to be mean, but because he HATES to write, he's not a very good speller, an dme coming from a family that HAD to do well, it just makes me wonder how I am going to deal with Mikey.

Um, he doesn't even write the checks out, I do, see how much he likes to write

[finnmom]

Angelia

I liked your idea, that sound´s fun! What ever work´s, even if it does sound a little wierd Who care´s; they´re learning and it´s fun

Brenda: I thought it might be more on the "couldn´t care less, dont have to concentrate.." thatn just short term memory. My ds has a marvelous memory, that´s when he memorises somthing that really interest him. If it´s not interesting then I can repeat it ziljon time´s and he wouldn´t remember it

That big letter´s with color´s sound´s like a good idea, mayby you could cut them of and let her organize letter´s as word´s she has to learn to spell. Or use those magnetic letter´s and let her make those word´s on the fridge door, or something like that. Takea timer and let her try how many word´s she´ll get in xx time...

Just few idea´s, hope you´ll find the way that work´s for you