Remember
Memory Work?
By Sandy Fleming
Remember when you had
to memorize that LONG poem, then stand in front of everyone
to recite it? How about when you had to say parts of the multiplication
table to prove that you had learned it? Scary stuff, and most
of us who went through it were not pleased at the time. Educators
in many areas have replaced that rote memory work with more
interactive forms of learning.
However, there is a movement
back towards memory work in some school curriculums. Educators
are discovering that the purpose of rote learning was not only
to get the facts or passage into the student's mind for all
eternity, but it also had several other benefits. Memory work
encourages and develops concentration skills and beginning
study habits. Memorizing a poem or group of math facts paves
the way for understanding how to study from a textbook later
in the school career. Children learn which memory aids and
tricks work best for them, and discover the conditions that
help them learn most efficiently. Memory work also (Surprise!)
develops memory skills. In other words, the more memory work
that most people do, the easier it is to remember things when
they choose to do so.
Memorized facts and poetry
are also more accessible to children, and so are more readily
used. Finally, most children are naturally good at this task.
The feeling of accomplishment when a person has mastered material
after working hard at the task is irreplaceable. Memory work
accomplishes many things that are important for school and
later learning.
What if your child's school
curriculum doesn't seem to be addressing this area? You can
build memory skills at home or in daycare as well. Play games
with your family or group that call for players to use their
memory. An example would be some variation on "I'm going on
a picnic and I will take _____." Each person repeats the
items listed before their turn, then adds one more. Who in
the family
can memorize a poem or quote to liven up dinner conversations?
There are numerous books of short quotations on the market
that contain marvelous pearls of wisdom. Have a weekly contest
to see who can memorize a favorite poem or passage. Try reciting
while bouncing a ball or doing another rhythmic task instead
of simply standing up and reciting. Another idea is to have
the child recite the piece into a tape recorder instead of
in front of an audience. The tape would make a wonderful
way to show distant relatives what is being learned. The
recitation
is often the most difficult part of these activities, but
also will help your child develop poise and self-confidence
that
will later become assets when going to job interviews or
doing other important communication tasks.
Keep learning alive with
memory tasks, whether poems, passages from important literature,
spelling words or math facts. The skills involved are too important
to allow to atrophy, and your children's efforts will pay off
in improved academic work and skills for later life.
Sandy Fleming
is an educator, author and workshop facilitator. She resides
in southern Michigan with her husband and three daughters.
Sandy leads workshops for daycare providers and parents
in the region, tutors students, volunteers for Girl Scouts
and her church, and teaches online classes for adults and
children. She loves to make new friends, so please drop
her an e-mail at kids@busyparentsonline.com
