The Part the Brain Plays in the Writing Process

The brain is very important in the Writing Process. If only one part of the brain is experiencing difficulty, then the Writing Process will become very challenging.

The main processes in the brain that is involved in the Writing Process are: Selective Attention, Executive Functioning, Metacognition, Motor Skills, Working Memory, Long Term Memory, Emotion and Automaticity. Each of these functions have many, many skills attached to them, and most of these skillsets rely on each other. For example, without Working Memory, Long Term Memory, and Exceutive Functioning working perfectly, Automaticity would be challenging for the person in question.

Here are some video clips about each process of the brain. If your student has a challenge with a particular brain process, you will find these videos informative. You should pick and choose which videos to view, as some are longer than others.

Selective Attention:

Executive Function:

Metacognition:

Motor Skills:

This video is using the example of walking up the stairs, but this example could easily be gripping a pen, or hand movements.

Working Memory:

Long Term Memory:

Emotion:

A longer video (about 1 hour) but shares some really good insights about emotion and the brain, and relates it back to learning.

Automaticity:

http://www.learninginfo.org/automaticity.htm