5 Practical Ways to Strengthen Working Memory in Middle School Classrooms

Posted In Application On April 24, 2025

Helping students strengthen working memory is one of the most impactful ways to improve academic performance and support overall executive function development. Working memory allows students to hold and manipulate information in their minds while completing tasks—whether they’re solving a math problem, following multi-step directions, or participating in a class discussion. By integrating executive function instruction into everyday classroom routines, middle school teachers can provide students with the tools they need to succeed both academically and socially.

Here are five classroom-ready strategies to help strengthen working memory while fostering student engagement, confidence, and independence.

1. Mnemonic Devices: Tools for Retention and Reflection

A powerful way to strengthen working memory is through the use of mnemonic devices. Before an upcoming assessment, encourage students to create their own mnemonic to remember key information. Not only does this promote student engagement, but it also builds student confidence as they take control of their learning.

Ask students to explain why they chose a particular mnemonic format—whether it’s an acronym, rhyme, or visualization—and to predict how effective they think it will be. After the assessment, have students reflect on how well the device worked and how they might improve it for next time. This metacognitive step is essential in teaching executive function skills, as it gives students insight into how they learn best and helps them refine strategies for future use.

2. Documenting Paying Attention Behaviors Across Environments

Paying attention doesn’t always look the same for every student, especially across different environments. Have your students track their paying attention behaviors in a variety of settings—during independent work, group activities, lectures, and while transitioning between classes.

Ask them to record what they were doing when they felt most focused and when they were most distracted. This self-monitoring activity strengthens working memory by training students to become more aware of how environmental factors affect their ability to hold and use information. It also builds student self-awareness and empowers them to advocate for the conditions in which they learn best.

3. Create and Use Acronyms for Multi-Step Processes

Whenever a classroom routine or academic process includes three or more steps, consider introducing a class-wide acronym to help students remember the sequence. For example, the acronym “RACE” (Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain) can be used to structure written responses in ELA classes.

Then, challenge students to create their own acronym for a process they personally need help remembering—such as organizing materials, checking math work, or writing a lab report. Have them track how often they use their acronym and when it helps the most. This activity encourages the use of executive functioning tools that make complex tasks more manageable and memorable.

4. In-Class Focus Check-Ins

A great way to strengthen working memory is by building in moments of pause and reflection during instruction. Throughout a lesson, ask students to quietly check in with themselves: “Am I on task? What am I supposed to be doing right now?” If a student realizes they are off task, guide them through a quick evaluation:

• Why did I lose focus?
• What was I doing instead?
• What happened as a result?

This executive function strategy improves student behavior management by making them more aware of the choices they make and their impact on learning. Over time, these small check-ins train students to self-regulate and stay engaged, even when tasks become more challenging.

5. Thought-Tracking Journals for Focus Patterns

Encouraging students to notice and record their wandering thoughts can be a surprisingly effective way to strengthen working memory. Over several days, have students jot down any recurring distractions during class. At the end of the week, lead a reflection session: Are there common themes? What times of day or subjects lead to the most off-task thoughts?

This activity gives students a concrete way to identify internal distractions and develop strategies to manage them. It also contributes to student empowerment by validating their experiences and giving them agency in finding solutions.

Making Executive Function Instruction Part of Everyday Learning

By integrating these five strategies into your classroom, you’re not only helping students strengthen working memory—you’re also addressing broader executive function challenges. These executive function lessons promote student strategies that build confidence, foster independence, and improve students’ academic performance.

Incorporating executive function instruction is especially important in middle school, where students are transitioning into more complex academic tasks and social environments. With the right executive function curriculum, educators can meet student learning needs and support social skills development in ways that feel natural and effective.

Want more tools and ideas to strengthen working memory?

• Working Memory Strategies for Grades 1–4
• Working Memory Strategies for Grades 9–12
• Sign up for our newsletter for executive function tools and teaching tips.
• Explore Cerebrate’s Executive Function Lessons to bring consistent executive function instruction into your classroom.

Middle school students are ready to take more ownership of their learning when we give them the right strategies and structures. Helping them strengthen working memory is a step toward equipping them for long-term academic success and life beyond the classroom.