As kids hit the books at school, many of them will struggle with how to remember what they learn. Most of the time, students understand the material, but don’t know how to study so that they effectively remember it.
The ability to retain and remember information on cue, otherwise known as instant recall, can help kids study more effectively, which leads to higher test scores, grades and confidence. It is something every child can learn with some simple steps. “No one is born with a good or bad memory,” said Eric Plantenberg, instructor for the Memory Training Institute. “The difference is a trained or untrained memory.”
Plantenberg teaches memory training workshops for thousands of adults and children each year. He gives people the mental tools to enhance their long and short term memories.
1. The language of one’s memory is pictures. Therefore, the key to remembering what is taught in the classroom is to convert the information into an image. The most memorable pictures are those that are vivid.
· For example, if a student needs to remember the 50 states and their capitals, convert each into a related picture. To illustrate, Dover is the capital of Delaware. A picture for Dover could be a dove and a picture for Delaware could be dollars you wear (like a coat made out of money.) Therefore to remember Dover is the capital of Delaware, imagine a dove wearing a coat of dollar bills which are being scattered every wear as the bird is flying.
2. When a student understands the material taught, but cannot recall it during a test, more often than not, the number one cause is stress. To cure this, have he or she simply take a breath and clear his or her mind; the answer will come. Or skip that particular question and come back to it.
3. Confidence also enhances memory. If a student is stuck for an answer during a test, have him or her give themselves a confidence booster, “I know this, it will come to me.” Skip the question and the answer will come.
4. The brain is designed to remember a lot of small pieces of information. To help study and recall information for exam, break the information into bite sized pieces.
· For instance, if your child is being tested on a chapter, have him or her break the material into main points. Again, convert the information into vivid images. Then, study six points at a time. Once he or she has studied and reviewed the first six points move to the next set.
5. Spaced repetition is the key to locking information into one’s long term memory. The magic formula is reviewing the information 1 hour, 1 day and 1 week after it has been learned.
With a little practice, these techniques can become automatic and lead to your child’s confidence being raised as well as a love for learning.
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