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Twelve Strategies to Get From Working Memory to Long Term Memory

I had a delightful group of teachers at my after school workshop today on Using Brain Research in the Classroom. We shared lots of ideas and there was lots of enthusiasm on the topic of the brain. 
Twelve Strategies to Get from Working Memory to Long Term Memory: tricks to help students make learning stick!

I had several key points I wanted to make, which I think came through successfully. You can see these main points on this post: Seven Brain Based Learning Principles.

Although I got through most of these points, (we really didn't get to the last two, after all, it's only an hour workshop!) But the one that's stuck in my mind is the third one:

The working memory can hold 2 to 4 chunks of information at a time, usually in about 4 - 8 minutes. After that, the brain needs time to process, reflect and review in order for those chunks to move to the long term memory.


In a world where we're given large amounts of information to dish out to the kids in a short day, it's tough to give out just 2 to 4 chunks of information at a time, then allow the time to process that information so it can go into the long term memory. Here are some suggestions for this enormous task of taking information from the working memory to the long term memory:


Twelve Strategies to Get from Working Memory to Long Term Memory: tricks to help students make learning stick!
1. Get them moving! I like to make movement and physical action part of the learning experience by using gestures and having the children mirror what I do.


2. Give time to review. I find the use of whiteboards work well for review. They are easy to use, very forgiving, and the kids love them.  They are easy for a teacher to check for quick assessments.


3. Use hands-on activities. Math manipulatives and science demonstrations work well to get the students interested and involved.


4. Minimize directions. Break larger lessons into smaller parts, making connections between parts.


5. Use a timer. After about 4 - 8 minutes, stop for a brain break, then return for a few more minutes, then another brain break.


6. Pause after a few pieces of information and give the students time to reflect and/ or ask questions.


7. Allow the students to draw pictures of what they're learning.  I'm a firm believer that drawing internalizes information. (I use it a lot for vocabulary.)


Twelve Strategies to Get from Working Memory to Long Term Memory: tricks to help students make learning stick!
8. Use graphic organizers to arrange ideas so they can be revisited and understood.


9. Use "think pair, share" type activities where the students talk about what they just learned.


10. Use music. Putting important information to a simple tune that the children already know really helps them remember the information.  Some simple tunes that everyone knows:  Twinkle Twinkle, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, or This Old Man.


11. Have a gimmick. Do something clever or unique to get their attention. Tell a joke or hook them in with something clever.


12. Get their emotions involved. Emotions are very  much tied to memory. (I'll bet you remember those very emotional events in your life:  like your wedding or giving birth!) For some, getting up in front of the class will get the right amount of emotions going. For others, a game will do the trick.

Do you have any ideas to help those chunks of information get into the long term memory?  Please include your ideas in the comments section below!


Twelve Strategies to Get from Working Memory to Long Term Memory: tricks to help students make learning stick!







9 comments:

  1. Great! I've enjoyed my visit to your blog! I'm so happy to be a 5 star blogger too! Come by when you get a chance!

    Blogging Blessings,
    Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rebecca,

      Thanks! I've been following you for a while!
      Sally

      Delete
  2. This is so important to remember for kindergarten and especially this time of year when the focus and retention is slipping away as summer vacation draws near.

    Thanks for the tips!

    Sheila

    Sprinkle Teaching Magic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sheila,

      Thanks, I agree! My kids are having a real tough time with focus!

      I entered your giveaway contest! :)

      Sally

      Delete
  3. I'm so happy to see your passion about the brain and effective instructional/learning strategies! I'm a fan too! I recently attended a professional development day with the authors of Thinking Through Quality Questioning, and they talked extensively about working memory and long-term memory. Thank you for compiling this list!

    ~Belinda
    I Love 2 Teach

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Belinda

      Thanks so much! Isn't the brain fascinating?

      Sally

      Delete
  4. Love this!! I am sooo into Whole Brain Teaching! We do a lot of chants in my room, and the kids LOVE it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love Whole Brain Teaching, too! Kids have always loved chants.. in my day we used to have loads of great chants for jumproping!

    Sally

    ReplyDelete

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