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Thinking Speed
We talked about some ways that other people could help you and ways
you could help yourself:
Top Tips for helping yourself How adults can help you to
with Thinking Speed skills process information well
If you are a slower, stronger thinker, there If you are a slower, stronger thinker, there are
are lots of things that can help: lots of things that other people can do to help:
What you can do to help yourself How adults can help you
1. Prepare to be at your best before you start – work out what 1. Slow and clear: ask people to speak slowly and clearly.
you need to feel good. Check the blue physical and green
emotional Needs cards – which might be a problem for you and 2. Thinking Time: ask for extra thinking time – work out how
long you normally need and ask for that much at least.
stop you from feeling good and focusing well? What could you
do to improve them? 3. Preview and Practice: Ask for lots of time for pre-learning
and practice for any tasks which will require quick fire thinking.
2. Ask people to slow down if the information This will help you to learn the information so well that it comes
is given too fast for you to process it. Say: to your mind easily and is automatic.
“Can you slow down please - I do better when
I’m given more time to process information.” 4. Time reminders: Ask people to let you know how long you
have to complete a task. Ask for regular time reminders or set
If you are worried about this, work with adults you trust to work yourself reminders.
out ways you can let people know your needs which feel ok for 5. Less is more: ask adults to keep the same level of challenge
you. and difficulty for you but give you less to do e.g. in maths –
keep the calculations the same difficulty but give you 5 instead
3. Ask people to repeat what they have said and give it to you in of 10 to complete.
chunks of 3 or less.
6. Reduce the ‘cognitive load’ in tasks –
4. Practise working faster – you can improve Thinking Speed the number of different things to think about
with practice. Time yourself doing tasks then work at reducing at once. (We know when ‘cognitive load’ is
the time by 10 seconds each time. Track your progress over bigger it can slow a person’s Thinking Speed).
time.
7. Clear and brief: ask for information in a clear, organised way
5. Give yourself time reminders – set alarms. with visual supports such as simple diagrams or pictures.
8. Chunked: ask for information and instructions in groups of 3
6. Take regular breaks – processing speed gets slower things to remember or less.
as our brain gets tired so work out ways to re-energise regularly.
9. Make it practical: ask for lots of practical, real examples.
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