Memorization with less frustration

By Lisa Viazzoli, Instructor

For some people, memorizing a fact happens like magic. They see a country on a map, they hear the name and… Voila!…That information is locked in their brains for life. For students who struggle with Executive Function, memorization is not always so easy. 

In this post, we will share a few of the many strategies you can choose and use to memorize material. First, though, it is important to understand memory itself. 

When we memorize information, we are tapping into working memory. Working memory is our ability to hold and manipulate information for a short period of time in order to complete a task. Remembering a phone number, recalling directions, or holding a number in mind while doing a math problem in one’s head are all tasks that employ working memory. 

Of course, everyone struggles with these tasks occasionally. But students who present with a relative weakness with working memory (an important executive function skill) may need extra tools and strategies to compensate for their natural deficits in this area.

Here are a couple strategies to try:

Just a Chunk…

Anything can be broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces. At Engaging Minds,we call them ‘chunks’. Breaking information into smaller chunks allows working memory to engage without overwhelming you. For example, a stack of flashcards can be separated into piles. Study one pile now and add another when you are ready. That stack can also be flipped. Are you looking at the word and trying to recall the definition? Try flipping those cards over so you start by looking at the definition and try to recall the word! Once you start looking for them, you’ll see chunks everywhere! 

Multiple ways to interact

Do you absorb information best while you are active? You are likely a kinesthetic learner. Activity helps you stay engaged while using your working memory. Instead of flipping through flashcards as though they were a deck of cards, for example, lay them out on the floor and tap the card that gives the correct definition. Maybe you feel you work best with information visually. You might choose to draw and label diagrams, or map terms and relationships, out on a concept map. Interacting with content in multiple modalities can be beneficial to retaining information. 

Gimme’ a Beat!

How would you feel if your assignment was to memorize a poem by Emily Dickinson? A little overwhelmed, maybe? What if we told you that almost every Emily Dickinson poem can be sung to the tune “The Yellow Rose of Texas”? Feeling a little better? Music, rhythm and rhyme are tools we commonly employ to help students rehearse information using working memory. These particular strategies are often especially helpful for auditory learners.

Pace Yourself

As our blog title states, our goal here is to make memorizing information less frustrating. So, your goal needs to include a plan. How much information do you have to memorize? How much time do you have to memorize it? How much information do you think you should work with at one time and how much time should you devote to each chunk (there’s that word again!)? Finally, make a plan and stick to it. Try using a calendar, alarms, a phone reminder… whatever works to keep you on track. Those students that come into a test looking like they slept in their clothes and claiming they stayed up all night ‘cramming’ are probably wishing they had planned ahead like you.

 Sleep on It

Don’t underestimate the importance of sleep in learning. Giving yourself a chance to reset is giving your brain a chance to consolidate what you have learned. Believe it or not, sleeping enhances memory. The question you may be asking is, “How much sleep do I need?” The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 9-12 hours of sleep per night for elementary and middle school aged students and 8-10 hours of sleep per night for teenagers. 

By now you have a greater understanding of the importance of working memory. You also have a few tricks up your sleeve. If you need a few more, we at Engaging Minds have even more tricks to try and help your memorization frustration … Disappear!