Brain Processes	Analogies for Brain Processes	Compared to Other Same-Aged Students, $ST has:
Crystallized Knowledge: The amount of cultural knowledge you have to understand and learn	It is like the “library” of the brain, which provides a source of knowledge and facts from which to draw upon.	STRENGTH NORMAL ABILITY WEAKNESS Understanding words and messages heard Using the appropriate facts Using appropriate words when talking Comprehending what is read Generating ideas when writing
Auditory Processing: Your ability to accurately perceive and use spoken sounds within words	It is like the brain’s “sound engineer” who tries to accurately record, filter, mix, and reproduce audio voice messages in high fidelity.	STRENGTH NORMAL ABILITY WEAKNESS Hearing differences between similar sounds Filtering out background noise when listening Breaking spoken words into smaller letter sounds or syllables Blending spoken letter sounds to make words Learning to decode unfamiliar words when reading
Fluid Reasoning: Your ability to solve problems with new information.	It is like the “detective” of the brain, who examines clues, make inferences, draws conclusions, and solves new problems.	STRENGTH NORMAL ABILITY WEAKNESS Making inferences Solving unfamiliar and/or complex problems Generating new ideas and solutions Generalizing ideas and skills across situations Figuring out the main idea when reading Drawing conclusions in reading, math or science Solving math word problems
Visual Processing: Your ability to use visual information.	It is like the brain’s “artist,” who interprets what he sees, and then tries to use the mental imagery in creative ways for various projects.	STRENGTH NORMAL ABILITY WEAKNESS Perceiving visual details Recognizing patterns Seeing the difference in how objects look (e.g., size, shape, location) Imagining how something might look when it is changed (e.g., rotated, partially covered, changed in size) Interpreting maps, graphs, and charts Using patterns and designs in art, geometry or geography Drawing with appropriate size, spacing, and proportions
Short-Term/ Working Memory: Your ability to hold brief information in your mind and use it within a few seconds without forgetting.	It is like the left-brain’s “voice recorder,” which can briefly store verbal messages before being erased, and the right-brain’s “post-it note,” which can briefly store images and notes before being discarded	Auditory Visual	STRENGTH NORMAL ABILITY WEAKNESS Remembering brief instructions Remembering sequential steps Sounding out longer words when reading Spelling longer words Following written steps in a plan or formula Memorizing math facts Recalling parts of a dictated math problem Taking brief notes
Long-Term Memory/Retrieval: Your ability to store information in memory and use it in the future on demand.	It is like the brain’s “librarian” (a metaphor for the hippocampus) who systematically stores and promptly retrieves information in the library as needed.	STRENGTH NORMAL ABILITY WEAKNESS Learning and recalling information quickly Remembering the specific sounds that letters make when reading Recalling facts from a lecture Summarizing what you have read in a chapter Recalling math facts learned long ago Thinking of words and ideas to use when writing or talking Reading fluently
Processing Speed: Your ability to complete simple tasks quickly and correctly.	It is like the brain’s “highway system,” which, according to the number and width of lanes, determines how quickly information can travel across the brain.	STRENGTH NORMAL ABILITY WEAKNESS Completing simple tasks quickly and correctly Working within a time limit Sorting objects or pictures quickly Quickly locating specific written or pictorial information Noticing errors quickly when editing work Copying quickly and accurately
General Intelligence: The total collection of brain processes working together to learn, think, and solve problems.	General intelligence involves the ability to think abstractly, learn from experience, to solve problems, and to adapt to new situations. The more you have, (i.e., the more efficient the contributing brain processes) the faster you can learn.	EXTEMELY ABOVE AVERAGE WELL-ABOVE AVERAGE ABOVE AVERAGE AVERAGE BELOW AVERAGE WELL-BELOW AVERAGE EXTEMELY BELOW AVERAGE