WISC-V Assessment Guide
Understanding Working Memory & Processing Speed
Learn about the WISC-V assessment and discover practical ways to practice working memory and processing speed skills at home
What is the WISC-V?
The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V) is one of the most widely used intelligence tests for children ages 6-16. While it measures overall cognitive ability, two key areas are particularly important for reading development:
- Working Memory: The ability to hold and manipulate information in your mind while performing other tasks
- Processing Speed: How quickly and accurately you can perform simple, routine tasks
These skills are crucial for reading because they help children remember what they've read, connect ideas across sentences, and process text efficiently.
Key WISC-V Subtests for Reading
Working Memory Index
Digit Span: Child repeats numbers forward, backward, and in sequence
Picture Span: Child remembers the order of pictures shown briefly
Letter-Number Sequencing: Child reorders mixed letters and numbers
Processing Speed Index
Coding: Child quickly copies symbols according to a key
Symbol Search: Child rapidly identifies whether target symbols appear in a group
Cancellation: Child quickly marks specific shapes while ignoring distractors
DIY WISC-V Activities at Home
These playful adaptations give you a taste of what your child experiences during testing:
Working Memory Activities
- Digit Span Forward: Say "3-7-9." Ask your child to repeat it exactly. Add digits as they succeed.
- Digit Span Backward: Say "4-8-2." They repeat it in reverse: "2-8-4."
- Digit Span Sequencing: Say "9-3-7." They reorder: "3-7-9."
- Picture Span (DIY): Lay out 4 playing cards, cover them, then ask your child to put them back in order.
- Letter-Number Mix: Say "A-3-B-7." They repeat: "A-3-B-7." Then try: "3-A-7-B" (numbers first, then letters).
Processing Speed Activities
- Symbol Copying: Create a simple key (circle=1, square=2, triangle=3). Show a row of shapes, time how fast they can write the numbers.
- Symbol Search: Draw 5 shapes in a row. Show a target shape. Can they find it? Time their responses.
- Rapid Naming: Print random letters/numbers in rows. Time how fast they can read across.
- Visual Scanning: Create a page of mixed letters. Have them circle all the "A"s as fast as possible.
What Weak Scores Mean for Reading
When children struggle with WISC-V working memory or processing speed, it often shows up in reading as:
- Poor comprehension: Forgetting what they read at the beginning of a sentence by the end
- Slow reading: Taking much longer than peers to get through text
- Difficulty with complex sentences: Struggling to follow multi-part instructions or complex storylines
- Poor spelling: Difficulty remembering letter patterns and sequences
- Math word problems: Trouble holding numbers and operations in mind while reading
How Readle Builds WISC-V Skills
Readle automatically targets the same skills measured by WISC-V subtests:
- Working Memory: Sentence mode requires holding words in mind while building comprehension
- Processing Speed: Timed word recognition builds rapid visual processing
- Visual Attention: Mixed font displays strengthen symbol recognition and scanning
- Sequential Processing: Story mode builds ability to follow and remember sequences
Instead of creating homemade worksheets, Readle provides adaptive practice that automatically adjusts to your child's level.
Related Tests
WISC-V often appears alongside other assessments. Here's how they connect:
Building WISC-V Skills at Home
Daily Practice Strategy:
- Morning (5 min): Rapid naming practice with Readle's letter/word modes
- After School (5 min): Working memory building with sentence recall activities
- Evening (5 min): Processing speed with timed reading exercises
Remember: These skills develop gradually. Focus on making practice fun and celebrating small improvements!
© 2024 Readle. Helping families build stronger reading skills, one practice session at a time.
