Working Memory Overload in Students

You ever have a student say, “I *knew* this yesterday!” — and honestly? Same.

That’s working memory in action — your brain’s tiny whiteboard that wipes clean when it’s too full.

We expect kids to hold five instructions, new info, and their own nerves... all at once.

But the truth? The brain can only juggle about 4 things before dropping one.

So when they “forget,” it’s not laziness — it’s overload. How do we fix it? Break tasks down.

Pause more. Let silence breathe. Because working memory isn’t infinite — it’s precious.

And when we give it space, real learning finally sticks.