Teaching Motivated Minds: Austin TX, November 12-14

Teacher Professional Development Workshop

Working Memory Strategies for Teachers

Explore how working memory enables students to think, learn, and solve problems—and how teachers can help them use it effectively.

Working Memory in the Classroom

Working memory is the mental space where students hold and manipulate information as they think and learn. They rely on it constantly: combining ideas, solving problems, writing sentences, and applying new knowledge. When working memory becomes overloaded, students can lose track of steps, misunderstand concepts, or struggle to show what they know.

In this workshop, teachers explore how working memory shapes learning—and how instructional choices can help students use it effectively. We’ll connect cognitive science research to classroom decisions about lesson design, directions, routines, examples, and the introduction of new ideas.

Throughout the session, participants apply these ideas to classroom materials and lessons. Teachers leave with a clearer understanding of working memory’s possibilities and constraints, and new perspectives on how to support students’ thinking and learning.

Workshop Content

What You'll Learn

Understanding Working Memory

Explore how working memory enables students to think, solve problems, and learn—and what happens when its capacity is overwhelmed.

Instructional Design Techniques

Consider how lesson design, explanations, examples, and classroom routines can help students use working memory effectively.

Memory and Schema Building

Understand how working memory interacts with long-term memory as students acquire knowledge and develop understanding.

Reducing Cognitive Load

Examine how instructional choices can reduce unnecessary cognitive demands while supporting students’ thinking and learning.

Supporting Struggling Learners

Explore how working memory demands can create difficulties for students—and how teachers can respond.

Practical Tools & Resources

Apply ideas from cognitive science to classroom examples, lessons, and instructional decisions.

Duration

  • Half-day: 2-3 hours
  • Full-day: 5-6 hours
  • Multi-day: 2-3 days
  • Custom formats available

Ideal For

  • PK-12 classroom teachers
  • Special education teachers
  • Instructional coaches
  • School leadership teams

Format

  • In-person workshop
  • Virtual options
  • Hybrid formats
  • Interactive & engaging

Curriculum

Key Topics Covered

Cognitive Load Theory

Managing Instructions

Note-Taking Strategies

Dual Coding Theory

Working Memory Capacity

Scaffolding Techniques

Checking for Understanding

Cognitive Science Research

Attention and Learning

Visual & Verbal Processing

Prior & Powerful Knowledge

Evidence-Based Teaching

“Andrew’s training sessions are invaluable, connecting theory with practice and clarifying working memory. I consistently leave with actionable strategies and powerful insights into motivation and mindset, along with tools to better support my students and have directly improved the effectiveness of the trainings I deliver.” 

Roxanne T., Study Skills Coach

Ready to Transform Your Teaching?

Bring this evidence-based teaching training to your school or district. Join educators nationwide using working memory strategies for classroom success.

Continue Learning

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Long-Term Memory

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Schema Theory

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