Working Memory – What is it?
Have you ever said to a child:
“I just told you what to do!”
“Why weren’t you listening?”
But the child looks confused… or does something completely different?
It might not be behaviour. It might be working memory.
What is working memory?
Working memory is the ability to hold onto information for a short time and USE it.
It’s not about remembering what happened last week.
It’s about what your brain is doing right now.
For example:
- Following instructions
- Copying from the board
- Sounding out a word
- Doing mental maths
It’s the brain’s “mental workspace”
Why it matters in the classroom
Children with working memory difficulties often:
- Struggle to follow instructions
- Forget what they’re doing halfway through
- Appear distracted or “not listening”
- Have difficulty learning to read, write, or do maths
- Become overwhelmed easily
Sometimes this gets mistaken for:
- Inattention
- Behaviour issues
- Poor comprehension
But actually… Working memory problems can sit underneath all of these
“But they have a great memory!”
This is one of the biggest misconceptions.
A child might:
- Remember every detail of a movie
- Know when their favourite show is on
- Recall events from years ago
…but still have poor working memory.
That’s because working memory is different from long-term memory
What does it look like day-to-day?
A child might:
- Start a task but forget what to do next
- Lose track in multi-step instructions
- Struggle to copy from the board
- “Switch off” when overloaded
- Seem inconsistent (fine one day, struggling the next)
This inconsistency is often due to cognitive load, stress, and fatigue
The most powerful strategies (simple but effective)
Here are some of the most important takeaways:
1. Chunk your language
Instead of:
“Put your bag away and then get your book from your locker and sit on the mat”
Try: “Put your bag away… get your book… sit on the mat”
Same message. Much easier to process.
2. Repeat key information
Repetition helps the brain hold onto information long enough to use it
3. Emphasise what matters
“Wait at the CORNER near the SHOP”
This reduces cognitive load.
4. Add visuals
- Gestures
- Writing it down
- Photos
- Simple drawings
Working memory improves when information is presented in more than one way
5. Get the child to repeat it back
“What are you going to do?”
This checks understanding AND strengthens memory.
6. Reduce distractions
Noise, clutter, and movement all compete for attention.
Less distraction = more working memory available
The BIG idea
Working memory is not about trying harder.
It’s about reducing the load on the brain
Final thought
When a child struggles to follow instructions, it’s easy to assume:
- They weren’t listening
- They’re being oppositional
- They need to “try harder”
But often…
They simply couldn’t hold onto the information long enough to use it
And when we change how we communicate… everything changes.
Download an information sheet – and tips for HOW TO HELP below.