There are a lot of demands on students over the course of the school day. Many times students will struggle to remember everything necessary, whether it is vital information for a test, homework assignments or special projects. Today, all students are tested on their knowledge to verify that programs, teachers and schools are functioning as optimally as possible. Here are some techniques new teachers can utilize in the classroom to help aid and improve the memory of students.
Imagery Mnemonics in the Classroom
Using imagery mnemonics can be helpful in preserving as much new information as possible for students. A mnemonic can be as simple as a special word or basic poem that helps the student remember the information.
For example, eight years ago I had a professor use imagery mnemonics to help us remember a set of unrelated information. The ones I still remember are: 1=brick, 3=house, 4=sugar, 5=football. To remember them, we used simple rhyme and imagery: one rhymes with bun, and I pictured a loaf of bread sitting on a brick to help me remember brick. Five rhymes with hive and I pictured a football being thrown through a bee hive.
Chunking and Connections Aid Student Memory
Chunking information is simply providing basic connections for students. When presenting new information, combine two or three concepts that work together to provide students with a more meaningful lesson. For example, teaching young students the letters D O and G together so that the new phonetic concepts make sense in the context of reading the word dog.
It is also helpful to have students make their own connections when learning new concepts. This is often utilized during reading groups by asking children to connect something from their own lives to what they are reading about to aid in comprehension. For example, when reading a book about a child who goes on a vacation, it can be helpful to have students recall memories of their own vacations.
External Methods of Improving Information Recall
Providing visual memory aids can not only assist students in initial learning of new concepts, but can actually help visual learners remember information when taking tests. It is helpful when utilizing external memory aids to have the students sit in the same location for the test as when they learned the material. This will assist the student in recalling information learned during class.
Examples of external memory aids include posters, lists for remembering the steps to solve a math problem and multiplication tables. External memory methods can also help students remember assignments through the use of a calendar or agenda. Likewise, color coding subjects into folders or sections of a binder can help keep students organized.
It is important to utilize a variety of memory aids in the classroom in order to maximize student learning. The result should be increased test scores, organization and overall learning.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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