LOGO WITH TEXT - Planeticnet | Education
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Categories
  • Malaysia
Menu
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Categories
  • Malaysia
Search
Home Children

Remapping Children Who Struggle at School [Latest 2022]

Planetic Net by Planetic Net
March 12, 2025
in Children, Dyslexia, Educator, Research, Social media, The Sunday Times, University of Cambridge
481
0
Depositphotos L - Planeticnet | Education

Depositphotos L

422
SHARES
1.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsappShare on TelegramShare on EmailShare on Wechat
Contents hide
1 @TeacherToolkit
1.1 Do diagnostic labels tell the full story?
1.2 Why cognitive profiles matter more than labels
1.3 Rethinking student support in the classroom
1.4 CPD questions for teachers:
1.5 The research concludes:
2 Like this:
3 Related

@TeacherToolkit

Ross Morrison McGill founded @TeacherToolkit in 2007, and today, he is one of the ‘most followed educators’on social media in the world. In 2015, he was nominated as one of the ‘500 Most Influential People in Britain’ by The Sunday Times as a result of…
Read more about @TeacherToolkit

Are school labels failing students who struggle?

Traditional learning difficulty labels may not fully capture the diverse challenges students face. A study suggests personalised assessment is key to supporting students more effectively.

Do diagnostic labels tell the full story?

Remapping the cognitive and neural profiles of children who struggle at schoolThis research, conducted by the University of Cambridge (n = 530), examined the cognitive and neural profiles of children with academic difficulties. Instead of relying on broad diagnoses like ADHD or dyslexia, the study used machine learning to identify four distinct clusters of learning difficulties, challenging the effectiveness of traditional labels.

Referrers were asked to identify the primary reason for referral, which could include ongoing problems in “attention”, “learning”, “memory”, or “poor school progress.”

The study found that children with the same diagnosis often had different cognitive challenges.

It identified four groups: those struggling with working memory, phonological processing, broad cognitive difficulties, and those who appeared typical on tests but still struggled in school. MRI scans (n = 184) showed that these clusters corresponded to distinct patterns of brain connectivity, reinforcing the need for more personalised support strategies.

  • Yellow square = good performance
  • Black square = poor performance

Remapping the cognitive and neural profiles of children who struggle at school

Credit: Astle et al., 2018

Why cognitive profiles matter more than labels

Understanding why students struggle is complex. The study suggests that learning difficulties are more nuanced than diagnostic labels imply. For instance, two students diagnosed with dyslexia may have vastly different cognitive profiles—one struggling with working memory while the other has phonological difficulties.

Labels may help students access support, but they do not tell the whole story. A more effective approach is to assess students’ individual learning profiles, ensuring interventions target their specific needs rather than relying on generic strategies.

For too long, school and college leaders have depended on diagnoses to determine support. This study highlights why that might be problematic. If students with the same diagnosis have different learning challenges, then blanket interventions may not be effective.

By focusing on individual cognitive profiles, teachers can ensure the right strategies are used. A student with working memory difficulties might need reduced cognitive load and visual scaffolding, while a student with phonological processing challenges may benefit from structured phonics interventions.

Rethinking student support in the classroom

Without a shift in approach, students may continue to receive ineffective support, leading to frustration and disengagement. So, what can teachers do? Here are three practical strategies:

  1. Assess beyond the label – Use formative assessments like working memory checklists or phonological screening to gain deeper insights into student needs.
  2. Adapt teaching strategies – If a student struggles with working memory, breaking tasks into steps and using retrieval practice can help. For phonological difficulties, explicit phonics instruction and repetition may be more effective
  3. Collaborate with specialists – Engage with SEND coordinators, educational psychologists, and parents to build a more complete picture of student learning needs.

CPD questions for teachers:

  1. How often do teachers rely on formal diagnoses to plan interventions?
  2. Could cognitive assessments provide more precise insights into student needs?
  3. What alternative strategies might help students with working memory difficulties?
  4. How can teachers differentiate support for students with the same diagnosis but different cognitive challenges?
  5. Are schools training staff to understand cognitive diversity in learning?
  6. Could technology help track individual student progress beyond labels?
  7. What role do parents and carers play in identifying learning challenges?
  8. How do current SEND policies impact personalised interventions?
  9. Are school assessment tools flexible enough to capture different learning profiles?
  10. What small classroom changes could better support students with diverse needs?

The research concludes:

Despite contrasting cognitive and neural profiles, the learning profiles of the working memory and phonological deficit groups were nearly identical. This diverges strongly from a preceding literature that emphasises a marked association between phonological difficulties and problems with literacy (Astle et al., 2018)

Download the full paper to explore the findings in more depth.

Like this:

Like Loading…

Related

Previous Post

Why the Oakland Zoo Said Goodbye to Osh the Elephant [Latest 2022]

Next Post

Dystopian Teacher Tales: Monday in Room B” [Latest 2022]

Related Posts

Spring Break Memes for Teachers - Planeticnet | Education
Time

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 24, 2025
CASnowpackGetty x - Planeticnet | Education
California

California’s Snowpack Shrinks, Igniting Concerns of Early Wildfires [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 23, 2025
a cf aed e acf f e e - Planeticnet | Education
Time

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 23, 2025
gettyimages b a db d c bb b ad bb x - Planeticnet | Education
Time

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 23, 2025
AdobeStock Editorial Use Only scaled - Planeticnet | Education
Court

Judge blocks Trump’s attempt to dismantle Department of Education [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 23, 2025
GETTYIMAGES KQED x - Planeticnet | Education
Air pollution

California to Sue Feds After Senate Blocks Its Clean Vehicle Rules [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 23, 2025
Shutterstock - Planeticnet | Education
Time

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 23, 2025
Reasons AI Tools Should Terrify Teachers and Reasons to Embrace Them - Planeticnet | Education
Courage

Dr. Jennifer Pratt: A legacy of learning, leading, and lasting impact [Latest 2022]

by Planetic Net
May 22, 2025
Next Post
AdobeStock scaled - Planeticnet | Education

Dystopian Teacher Tales: Monday in Room B” [Latest 2022]

BED PARTIES wmhp facebookJumbo - Planeticnet | Education

‘Bed Party’ [Latest 2022]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Spring Break Memes for Teachers - Planeticnet | Education

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

May 24, 2025
CASnowpackGetty x - Planeticnet | Education

California’s Snowpack Shrinks, Igniting Concerns of Early Wildfires [Latest 2022]

May 23, 2025
a cf aed e acf f e e - Planeticnet | Education

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

May 23, 2025
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
gettyimages custom e a d a b e d d a a x - Planeticnet | Education

Is Your House at Risk of a Wildfire? This Online Tool Could Tell You

0
indicators of authentic mobile learningc - Planeticnet | Education

9 Indicators Of Authentic Mobile Learning

0
Books to Read to Comfort After a Tragedy - Planeticnet | Education

Books to Read With Kids After a Tragedy

0
GettyImages - Planeticnet | Education

Generating Leads With An Authoring Tool Listing In The eLearning Industry Directory

0
Spring Break Memes for Teachers - Planeticnet | Education

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

May 24, 2025
CASnowpackGetty x - Planeticnet | Education

California’s Snowpack Shrinks, Igniting Concerns of Early Wildfires [Latest 2022]

May 23, 2025
a cf aed e acf f e e - Planeticnet | Education

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

May 23, 2025
gettyimages b a db d c bb b ad bb x - Planeticnet | Education

nytimes.com [Latest 2022]

May 23, 2025
LOGO WITH TEXT - Planeticnet | Education
Planetic.net | Education is a free website that has been designed to help students and a one stop hub for students seeking for information on scholarship, education, school and university tips and updates on different issues relating to education.
About Us

Useful links

  • Technology
  • Tool
  • Computer
  • Science
  • Robotics
  • Malaysia
  • Leadership

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Other

  • Main site
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Health & Fitness
  • Travel
  • App

© 2022 Planetic.net. All rights reserved.

Newsletter - Planeticnet | Education

WANT MORE?

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE LATEST UPDATES AND NEWS, PLUS SOME EXCLUSIVE TIPS!