The Importance of the Pause for Word Recall: Trusting Your Brain

One of the biggest challenges I see with dyslexia and ADHD is on-the-spot word recall. Finding the right word, name, or term on the spot can be really tough—even if it’s a word the student uses all the time. In school, where kids are often expected to answer quickly in front of a class, this can be especially stressful. Many start to worry about looking “dumb” if they can’t remember a word right away, and that fear can make them avoid speaking up altogether.

I know this struggle myself, and I see it every day with my students. One small but powerful strategy I’ve found is teaching the value of a simple pause. When a student freezes while trying to recall a word, I’ll often stop and say, “Let’s just give your brain a second—see if it comes.” More often than not, the word does come; it just needs a little extra time. The truth is, our brains don’t always work on demand—they’re more like a filing cabinet, and sometimes it takes a moment to pull out the right folder. Once students realize this, they stop thinking, “I don’t know it,” and start realizing, “I just need a second.” That change in thinking can be huge.

Learning to pause takes away a lot of the pressure. It gives students a tool they can use in real-life situations, and it reduces the anxiety of “blanking out” in front of others. Instead of panicking, they learn to breathe, wait, and trust that their brain will catch up.

The pause reminds us that hesitation doesn’t mean failure—it’s just part of how memory works. By making space for it, we help kids feel more confident, more willing to speak up, and more in control of their own learning.