Memorization Techniques that will work for you… Remembering… Memorization Techniques that will work for you…

Introduction… Unless you get sick or die, your brain never loses anything that goes into memory. Forgetting is caused by not being able to retrieve it or not storing it properly. Otherwise, it is always there.

Short-term & Long term Memory Short-term memory is like a loading dock at HEB or Wal-Mart. The truck pulls in with new learning for you. You are like the fork-lift that takes the new thing off the truck and puts it on the dock for a short time. To keep it in long-term memory, you need to pick it up and put it in the warehouse where it is stored in an organized way until it is needed. You need to remember where you put it so you can get it when you need it.

VCR3 Visualizing: use your “mind’s eye” to see what you need to remember. Concentrating: bring your mind into “focus” on it! Relating: associate it with something you already know. Repeating: keep saying it over and over to yourself. Reviewing: keep going through it so that it sticks in your brain. Relate to prior knowledge Repeat & Review

Memory Devices: ways to remember… General to Specific: get the big picture and then move to the details. Make it Meaningful: the more important it is to you, the better you will remember it. Exaggerate: make it bigger or fancier than it really is. Nobody will forget a Mermaid!

More memory tricks: Create associations: make connections or links with things you already know. Learn it actively: fight boredom while learning by acting out what you are learning. Relax: the “smoother” you feel, the more information you will absorb. Create pictures: draw diagrams or cartoons- be inventive

Make your memory work for you… Recite and repeat: say it again and again out loud to send it through the ears to the brain. Write it down: a physical act with a different way to the mind. Short Term Memory Trap: the “loading dock” of the mind, review and repeat to move to “Long Term Storage” so you can use it. Distribute Learning – break it into small pieces, don’t try to learn it all at once in one big chunk.

If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it! Watch your attitude – if you think what you’re learning is boring, you won’t remember it. Use combinations: get both sides of your brain involved – sing the word while you read it. Remember Something Else: if you can’t remember one thing, then think of something close. Create a story: make up a strange one to memorize what you need.

Mnemonic Devices (pronounced nemonik) Acronyms: first letter makes a word: CIA, FBI, NASA, NAFTA, IRS, GMC Acrostics: sentences to remember letters George’s Eldest Oldest Grandfather Rode A Pig Home Yesterday Rhymes & Songs: do a rap song, or a jingle, like they do on TV to get you to remember.

Cramming at the last minute… Cramming is never a good way to remember, but sometimes you have no choice. Make it work by- Depressurize – take it easy. Know the type of test you’ll be taking. Read it quick: H2FLIB – headings, highlight, first sentence, last sentence, indents and boxes. Use your syllabus or study guide.

Don’t forget – remember! Just like anything else - the more you train and exercise your mind and memory, the better it will work for you and serve you. There is no substitute for effort and work.