--- title: How You Can Spot Weak Cognitive Skills in Your Classroom description: "Some signs a student may have a weakness in one or more key cognitive skills. Skills essential for learning: working memory, attention, processing, sequencing." image: https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/file-1398873997-jpg/Product_images/MAPS_brain01.jpg --- - [Blog](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog) - [Newsletter](https://www.learningbrainnews.com) - [Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/6bLMNOdd8r3x9Onx9gSubb) - [Free Resources](https://www.learnfasthq.com/free-learning-resources) - [Shop](https://learnfast-products.myshopify.com/) [![LearnFast](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/LearnFast_logo.png?width=150&height=77&name=LearnFast_logo.png "LearnFast")](https://www.learnfasthq.com) - [Programs](https://www.learnfasthq.com/programs) - Results - [The Science](https://www.learnfasthq.com/science) - [The Research](https://www.learnfasthq.com/research) - [Success Stories](https://www.learnfasthq.com/success-stories) - Who we help - [Teacher](https://www.learnfasthq.com/teacher) - [Parent](https://www.learnfasthq.com/parent) - [Business](https://www.learnfasthq.com/business) - [How we help](https://www.learnfasthq.com/how-we-help) - [Connect](https://www.learnfasthq.com/connect) - [Blog](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog) - [Newsletter](https://www.learningbrainnews.com) - [Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/6bLMNOdd8r3x9Onx9gSubb) - [Free Resources](https://www.learnfasthq.com/free-learning-resources) - [Shop](https://learnfast-products.myshopify.com/) # How You Can Spot Weak Cognitive Skills in Your Classroom [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/how-you-can-spot-weak-cognitive-skills-in-your-classroom) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/how-you-can-spot-weak-cognitive-skills-in-your-classroom) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/how-you-can-spot-weak-cognitive-skills-in-your-classroom) ![Picture of Peter Barnes](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hub/363641/file-691639901.jpg) [Peter Barnes](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/author/peter-barnes) [Learning Difficulties](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/learning-difficulties), [Fast ForWord](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/fast-forword), [Educational Neuroscience](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/educational-neuroscience) ![MAPS\_brain01.jpg](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/file-1398873997-jpg/Product_images/MAPS_brain01.jpg?width=234&height=144&name=MAPS_brain01.jpg)What’s happening in your students’ brains when they can’t follow your classroom instructions? What if a student doesn’t want to answer your question? And why do some students struggle to tell a story? These are all signs that a student may have a weakness in one or more key cognitive skills. Skills essential for learning. As well as language skills, we all need four key thinking skills for effective learning. They are: memory, attention, processing, and sequencing. Here are some behaviours you might notice if your students have a weakness in these skills: ***M**emory* You tell your kindergarten students, "colour the apples red, the tulips yellow, and the cats black." Those with poor [working memory](http://blog.learnfasthome.com.au/blog/why-your-working-memory-is-important-for-your-general-intelligence) may only remember the first colour. You instruct your class, “Put your homework in the box, clear off your desk, get out your worksheet and mark all the pictures with stop signs.” Students with a poor working memory may forget the last step. ***Attention*** Instead of paying [attention](http://blog.learnfasthome.com.au/blog/your-attention-spotlight-how-you-can-improve-it-for-better-learning) to you, a student might be watching what a classmate is doing. Or they are looking for a noise they heard from the other side of the classroom. You may find them focusing on small distractions the other students ignore. ***Processing*** You may observe a student often misinterpreting visual cues (a sign of poor visual processing skills). Another might be reluctant to answer your questions. This student could have poor [auditory processing](http://blog.learnfasthome.com.au/blog/poor-listening-skills-could-it-be-auditory-processing-disorder) skills. They may not be able to accurately notice the difference between sounds. Their brains will be busy trying to figure out what you asked them, so they can’t answer you immediately. ***Sequencing*** Children with weak sequencing skills may not be able to compose or outline a story. **Why are these skills important for learning?** ***Memory:    ***Working memory allows us to remember information, an essential building block of learning. Without good recall, a child will struggle in the classroom. ***Attention:    ***Children must be able to listen to and understand information for learning to occur. Without strong attention skills, a student’s school success will be adversely affected. ***Processing:    ***The processing skill allows us to understand and put meaning to information we see or hear. Students will struggle with maths computation, handwriting, reading & comprehension if their processing ability is weak. Students will struggle with maths computation, handwriting, reading & comprehension if their processing ability is weak. ***Sequencing:    ***The sequencing skill allows our brains arrange information in order. Students need this skill to alphabetize, count, and organise information. **You can train these cognitive skills, simultaneously, in your classroom** Children will have a difficult time in school if one or more of these cognitive skills is deficient. But there is a well-documented program you can use to improve these essential skills. It’s [Fast ForWord123](http://blog.learnfasthome.com.au/blog/what-is-fast-forword123), the only scientifically designed and proven course that targets memory, attention, processing, and sequencing, all within every training session.  [![See All Skills Strengthened by Fast ForWord](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/363641/0c539efe-055c-4c05-86cd-669c639d8c49.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/363641/0c539efe-055c-4c05-86cd-669c639d8c49) **Related Posts** [Could Auditory Processing Disorder be the Reason Your Child is Struggling to Read?](http://blog.learnfasthome.com.au/blog/could-auditory-processing-disorder-be-the-reason-your-child-is-struggling-to-read) [Student Learning Capacity: The Missing Link in Education](http://blog.learnfasthome.com.au/blog/student-learning-capacity-the-missing-link-in-education) [Fast ForWord123: How Much Evidence is Enough?](http://blog.learnfasthome.com.au/blog/fast-forword-how-much-evidence-is-enough-science-real-world) [What is Fast ForWord123?](http://blog.learnfasthome.com.au/blog/what-is-fast-forword123) ## Related Posts [![](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/writing-g72537a99d_1920.jpeg?height=200&name=writing-g72537a99d_1920.jpeg)](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/25-improvement-in-writing-skills-in-11-weeks-using-fast-forword123) [Writing](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/writing), [Fast ForWord](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/fast-forword) ### [25% improvement in writing skills in 11 weeks using Fast ForWord123](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/25-improvement-in-writing-skills-in-11-weeks-using-fast-forword123) 25 university students who had Fast ForWord123 training for 11 weeks boosted their writing skills 25%. This compares with a control group of 28 students at the same university who did not receive the training, and who showed no [Read More](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/25-improvement-in-writing-skills-in-11-weeks-using-fast-forword123) [Fast ForWord](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/fast-forword) ### [Improve Executive Function with Fast ForWord123 Exercises](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/improve-executive-function-with-fast-forword123-exercises) Your brain is an amazing organ. Countless studies, experiments and articles have shown us this. The complexities and inner-workings of this powerhouse are still yet to be fully explored.  Have you ever stopped to think what controls [Read More](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/improve-executive-function-with-fast-forword123-exercises) [![LearnFast](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/LearnFast_logo.png?width=150&height=77&name=LearnFast_logo.png "LearnFast")](https://www.learnfasthq.com/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/LearnFastGroup/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://au.linkedin.com/company/learnfastgroup) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.youtube.com/user/learnfasteducation) Connect with Us: **Phone:** 02 8467 4888 Email: info@learnfastgroup.com.au --- Copyright © 2026, LearnFast A & NZ [Privacy Policy](https://www.learnfasthq.com/privacy-policy)