Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Creating procedures around daily classroom activities reduces the mental burden for students, leaving more brain space for them to think deeply about content.
Working memory is limited—it can only tend to a certain number of items at a time. In a typical classroom where there are lots of things going on, there’s serious competition for that brain space. Establishing predictable protocols can be invaluable for reducing the cognitive burden a busy classroom generates, preserving students’ working memory so they can put their mental energy towards learning instead of logistics. Explains Jim Heal from Learning Science Partners, “Routines are great because they allow students and teachers to focus on the content of the lesson rather than necessarily on the procedures that are required to get to the content of the lesson.”
Our How Learning Happens video series explores teaching practices grounded in the science of learning. To see more, visit edutopia.org/package/how-learning-happens-instructional-shifts
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© 2026 George Lucas Educational Foundation
Creating procedures around daily classroom activities reduces the mental burden for students, leaving more brain space for them to think deeply about content.
Working memory is limited—it can only tend to a certain number of items at a time. In a typical classroom where there are lots of things going on, there’s serious competition for that brain space. Establishing predictable protocols can be invaluable for reducing the cognitive burden a busy classroom generates, preserving students’ working memory so they can put their mental energy towards learning instead of logistics. Explains Jim Heal from Learning Science Partners, “Routines are great because they allow students and teachers to focus on the content of the lesson rather than necessarily on the procedures that are required to get to the content of the lesson.”
Our How Learning Happens video series explores teaching practices grounded in the science of learning. To see more, visit edutopia.org/package/how-learning-happens-instructional-shifts
Join the Edutopia community today to get articles, videos, and more delivered via email every Wednesday—all tailored to you and your unique role: edut.to/3wEVHUh
*Follow us here:*
Official Website: https://edutopia.org
YouTube: youtube.com/c/edutopia
Facebook: facebook.com/edutopia
Instagram: instagram.com/edutopia
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/edutopia.org
#brainbasedlearning #teachingstrategies #howlearninghappens #learningscience
© 2026 George Lucas Educational Foundation
