Kevin Wasielewski Alex Gagnon Tom Denten Scott Fenwick SPED 410 – Summer 2010

“Big Question” Introduction After our presentation, will you be able to remember 3 research- based strategies or instructional techniques that will help improve your students’ memories and provide an example of how you would incorporate each one into your practice?

Context To be successful in school, students depend on memory strategies Students need tools to help them retrieve information via the use of memory strategies. It is likely that special-needs students will have difficulty activating memorized information Research shows that memory strategies are particularly useful for students with learning disabilities. There are several instructional practices and strategies that teachers can implement to aide in enhancing students’ memories.

Your Objectives Become familiar with memory strategies and instructional methods that will help your students remember what they learn Experience working on a particular memory strategy Remember several examples of memory strategies and instructional methods that you can employ in your classroom

Examples of Memory Strategies Mnemonics = Trigger Techniques Acronyms & Acrostics FIRST-letter strategy Phonic & Spelling Mnemonics Sound/Symbol Correspondence Method of Loci Keyword Method

Mnemonics by Michael Scott! ure-circuit/994221/

Mnemonics by Michael Scott! All kidding aside, which of the following mnemonic devices did Michael employ? Acronyms Acrostics FIRST-letter strategy Key-word method Sound/symbol correspondence

Additional Examples of Memory Strategies Advance Organizers “priming the memory” examples: notes & vocabulary cards Retrieval Practice practice tests or quizzes Short-term Strategies active reading, i.e. underlining and highlighting reading before going to bed and nothing else in-between Motor Images Enhance memory through physical activity example: “Econ Cheer”

The Memory Strategy Experience Find a partner Use your handout You and your partner have 3 minutes to create an acrostic to help you remember at least 4 of the 6 mnemonic strategies listed on your handout For example: Mnemonics is Key for Assisting Special-needs students (M= method of loci, K = keyword, A = acronyms & acrostics, S = spelling mnemonics).

Instructional Techniques to Enhance Students’ Memories Cueing Activate prior knowledge and connect to new content knowledge Visual/instructional aides such as graphic organizers Be careful not to overload information teach in small doses, i.e. “chunking” Be mindful of pace and rate of presentation of new information Content-area knowledge: Review, Rehearse, Apply, Repeat i.e., learning for mastery Teach strategies

Back to the “Big Question” Without referencing your handout, can you remember 3 research-based strategies or instructional techniques that will help improve your students’ memories and provide an example of how you would incorporate each one into your practice?

SPED 410 Presentations Wikispace! Access detailed information on Memory Strategies and Mnemonics Find articles, weblinks, and resources about Memory Strategies and Mnemonics Please share your group’s presentation and information with your colleagues…it’s easy!