When a Student is Staring at a Blank Page
Over the past few weeks, we’ve shared a series of posts on linkedin and these newsletters on working memory. Now let's dive a little deeper.
Are any of these scenarios familiar?
✏️ You’re a teacher. You’ve given your students a writing prompt. As you walk around, you notice one student staring at a blank page. They haven’t written a single word.
📚 You’re a coach or tutor. Your student has missing assignments, including a writing task. The teacher has left a note saying the student can still submit it. But when you ask your student about it, they shrug and say, I don’t even know where to start.
If you’ve seen these challenges before, working memory struggles and cognitive overload could be playing a major role.
What is Working Memory? Working memory is the brain’s mental workspace—it allows students to hold and manipulate information for short periods. However, most people can only retain 4-5 pieces of information at a time.
Now, think about what happens when a student gets home:
✅ They check their online portal for assignments
✅ They try to remember what was discussed in class
✅ They gather the materials they need to start their work
✅ They begin an assignment while keeping track of multiple instructions
That’s a lot to juggle! If a student forgets a step, gets overwhelmed, or doesn’t know where to begin, it’s likely because their working memory is overloaded—not because they don’t care about their work.
As educators, we can help by providing clear structures and reducing cognitive overload.
⚡ Cognitive Overload: When the Brain Hits Its Limit
When too much information floods working memory, it can lead to cognitive overload—meaning there’s no room left for new input. This is why:
🔹 Kids struggle to follow multi-step directions
🔹 Students lose track of assignments in school portals
🔹 Routines break down, leading to frustration for parents and teachers
But here’s the good news: strategies based on cognitive science can help!
💡 How to Support Working Memory & Reduce Cognitive Overload
👉 For Educators & Coaches: Provide clear, structured instructions and help students create a key or guide for navigating school portals—so they always know where to find assignments and important information.
👉 For EF Specialists: Help students understand working memory by simplifying the science behind it—how the brain can only hold 4-5 pieces of information at a time and why overload happens. Then, guide them in applying this knowledge to their tasks by developing personalized strategies, such as breaking assignments into steps, using checklists, or structuring their workflow in a way that works best for their brain.
If you're an ADHD coach, academic coach, teacher, or tutor, becoming an Executive Function Specialist gives you the tools to support your students with strategies backed by cognitive science. DM us to learn how you can train with us! or click here: Connected Pathways Academy today! Remember New Cohorts starts APRIL 21, 2025 but you do not need to wait until then.
