In order to improve student's learning abilities, the crucial brain skills including attention, memory, and processing speed have to be made automatic.
Making brain skills automatic means shifting them into the sub-conscious where everything occurs with little mental effort. A fluent reader for example doesn’t have to consciously sound out the individual sounds of every word; they simply look at the word and automatically know how to pronounce it. Making processing skills automatic is crucial because when academic tasks such as reading or math require too much conscious resources to complete, other relevant areas such as comprehension also suffer. Similarly, when academic tasks require little conscious effort, the excess conscious energy is available for higher-order tasks such as comprehension and reasoning.
Making processing skills automatic involves a very precise and distinct strategy. Through a process we call “loading,” the student is required to do an increasing number of processing tasks at once. If the child is able to do two tasks at the same time, a third is added. If he or she is able to do three tasks simultaneously, a fourth is added. Since the conscious mind can only handle a limited number of tasks at a time, the others are forced to the subconscious, which is exactly where you want most processing skills to be so that they are quick, efficient, and automatic
For a student with poor divided attention, any interference can make it difficult for them to focus and learn in class. If their divided attention is poor, they may have to rely on tutors and outside help to succeed in school. Focus and attention are critical for learning and performance. Through a customized, brain-based curriculum, LiFT programs help students improve their ability to process complex information and use more of their brain resources when attending to multiple stimuli at a time. Students learn strategies and techniques for maintaining focus and engagement in learning, leading to improved performance and productivity.
For a student with poor alternating attention skills, adapting to new and changing situations can be difficult. This can make basic daily activities like schoolwork more difficult to complete. LiFT's evidence-based training programs have been proven to strengthen students' executive functioning skills, helping them shift focus when transitioning between tasks.
