Short-term Memory stores a limited amount of information for a short time. It is our holding tank for skills and knowledge that, with practice, will move to Long-term Memory. Short-term Memory, particularly visuospatial ability explained below, has been shown to be associated with math performance. While research supports the role of Short-term Memory in math learning at all ages, it has been shown to be particularly helpful during these earlier years.

There are two types of Short-term Memory:

Verbal Short-term Memory stores verbal information.

Visuospatial Short-term Memory stores information about our perceptions of spatial relationships.

Short-term Memory is different from Working Memory because information is not manipulated in Short-term Memory, as it is in Working Memory. When items in Short-term Memory are rehearsed sufficiently, they are consolidated to become part of Long-term Memory.