Cheshire Academy is the only school in the state to utilize grant funding for a memory training program for junior class students. The “Cogmed Working Memory Training” will be offered to about 60 students beginning in January, 2015.
The students will receive training during the school day at no cost. “Students who take the program will be more effective in a whole host of learning environments,” said Jeremy LaCasse, acting assistant head of school. “They will be able to manipulate information and ideas and have a more facile memory.”
The program will be facilitated by Frankenberger and Associates of Branford, Conn. “A key goal will be for students to understand the role that their own motivation and investment play in improving their abilities,” said Caryl Frankenberger, an educational consultant and Cogmed coach.
To test the effectiveness of the training, three Cheshire Academy faculty members recently enrolled in a five-week program led by Frankenberger. They concluded the training would support the Academy’s philosophy of helping students learn more effectively. “Cognitive training will be a very big part of the future,” said participant Leah Stancil, director of Roxbury Academic Support. “This is a real perk for juniors.”
Junior class students who register by June 1 will attend daily classes for a six-week period. “There will be coaching on strategies to improve working memory and executive function,” Stancil said. For certain students, short term memory needs work, but executive functions are strong. Conversely, other students have a good short-term memory but need to improve executive functioning.
“This is another tool to help them get better at learning. Through Roxbury (which will coordinate the grant), we are able to have this unique element for Cheshire Academy,” LaCasse said.
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