My first comment, with respect BR, is that you need to explain yourself a little more clearly with plain English (an essential qualityl for any instructor.) I found your first para needed reading a few times
'Idiot cards' as you call them and again if you were teaching FI at my school I would need to have a liitle talk with you, are the basis of professional flying and I certainly encourage their use especially when you start.
My AME (doctor) regularly forgets parts of the medical examination each time I go and he is an ex RAF medic and has been doing it for years!
Are you approaching each exercise with the aim clearly defeined and understood by yourself. And are you concluding each exercise with that aim being achieved. Once you have the beginning and the end sorted the middle bit should flow naturally!