| y"> | | | | hemisphere of the brain, the strongest side for |
| I talk to a lot of teachers about how they can best | | | | visual-spatial learners. My oldest son, had to memorize |
| reach the visual-spatial learners in their classes, those | | | | this information for his science class: |
| who think in images and see the whole picture, not in | | | | Domain |
| words or step-by-step. Many of these teachers tell | | | | Kingdom |
| me that they try to incorporate visual tricks so their | | | | Phylum |
| students can master the material that must be | | | | Class |
| memorized. But, there are things you can do, as a | | | | Order |
| parent, to help your visual-spatial student make learning | | | | Family |
| permanent, as well. Here are some examples. | | | | Genus |
| Take the information your children must memorize and | | | | Species |
| have them create a silly story with it. I once met an | | | | So he created this silly "headline" to remember the |
| incredibly dynamic teacher and conference presenter | | | | order: |
| named Jon Pearson ( who taught the 13 colonies by | | | | Darwin Kracks Porpoise Code Orders Families to |
| having his audience memorize a ridiculous story--in | | | | Group Specialist |
| pictures that participants created in their minds--of a | | | | It's meaningless and ridiculous, which makes it |
| Jersey cow named Georgia, atop the Empire State | | | | memorable! Try this with your kids the next time they |
| Building. Can you "see" New Jersey, Georgia and New | | | | have a string of material to memorize. |
| York here? The tale went on to include all 13 colonies | | | | A dear friend of mine wrote me with this: |
| and after each line we were instructed to create an | | | | I took an exhausting/exhilarating 16-hour reflexology |
| image in our mind's eye while we repeated the line | | | | certification course this past weekend. I was told that |
| back to him: | | | | memorizing the official 47-word definition of |
| There's a cow named Georgia (Georgia) | | | | reflexology - exactly, word for word, was worth 15 |
| It's a Jersey cow (New Jersey) | | | | points on the Certification exam. First I thought, I can |
| She's sitting on top of the Empire State | | | | never do this. Then, I decided I would make a song out |
| Building (New York) | | | | of it!! I put it to a familiar tune! THAT came from YOU!! |
| She's singing a couple of Christmas carols | | | | (Personal communication, E. Meckstroth, October, |
| (North and South Carolina) | | | | 2004.) |
| Under her arm is a Virginia ham | | | | Put the information your children are trying to learn to |
| (Virginia and New Hampshire) | | | | the tune of a familiar song, like Twinkle, Twinkle Little |
| The cow is wearing a pair of yellow underwear | | | | Star, or Three Blind Mice, or even Happy Birthday. |
| (Rhymes with Delaware) | | | | Always remember, visual-spatial learners thrive on the |
| In its hoof is a pencil (Pennsylvania) | | | | use of color, humor, music, hands-on activities--anything |
| The cow is making a Connect-the-dotsdrawing | | | | that gets the right hemisphere of the brain into the act. |
| (Connecticut) | | | | Such techniques are sure to make the learning fun and |
| Of Marilyn Monroe (Maryland) | | | | permanent. |
| Walking down a road (Rhode Island) | | | | Create a game out of new material your children are |
| Going to mass (Massachusetts) | | | | learning. This works great for memorizing capitals to |
| Illustrated by Buck Jones, 2004. All rights reserved. | | | | states, countries to continents, specific animals of a |
| When Jon was done, every member of the audience | | | | species, or any other information that includes two |
| could accurately recall the ridiculous images each had | | | | groups of data that are related to each other. |
| mentally created and, hence, all 13 colonies. The best | | | | Matching games like "Concentration" don't take long to |
| part is that your children don't have to be artists to | | | | create, are fun to play and can help you remember |
| accomplish this. If they want the images drawn, not | | | | which information goes with what. Just take some |
| just imagined, stick figures work just fine. As long as | | | | blank white index cards for recording your information. |
| the story is silly and funny and you use color, | | | | You can create each note card with words or |
| exaggerated sizes and humor to convey the new | | | | drawings, whatever works best for your children . |
| material, it will be remembered. They can use this trick | | | | Let's suppose they are trying to memorize the states' |
| to remember so many different types of material, | | | | capitals. Make a card for every state, using an outline |
| from historical data to science principles, and so much | | | | of the shape of the state with the name of that state |
| more. | | | | included somewhere on or above the outline of it. |
| Why do you suppose beginning piano students are | | | | Then, make a card for every capital. You can make |
| taught the notes of the scale as Every Good Boy | | | | up silly stories if that helps remember the names of |
| Does Fine? Because it works to stick in the student's | | | | the capitals. (Springfield, IL could include a drawing of a |
| mind. Why did we learn the letters of the alphabet to | | | | field of springs, for example.) |
| the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star? Because | | | | You can also use color to help your children remember |
| catchy tunes serve as an anchor and they make new | | | | which capitals go with which states. Just have them |
| information permanent and retrievable. | | | | include color in the drawing or put a dot of color |
| Or, show your children how to use acronyms for | | | | somewhere and use the same color on the card that |
| remembering strings of words. Have you seen the | | | | matches. This will be a good way to confirm your |
| trick for memorizing the Great Lakes? | | | | selections as they play the game, too. |
| H Huron | | | | Once all the cards have been created, lay them face |
| O Ontario | | | | down and play the traditional game of concentration |
| M Michigan | | | | where you match capital to state. (You'll probably want |
| E Erie | | | | to start with just five or seven states and their capitals |
| S Superior | | | | and gradually increase the number.) |
| A Canadian woman I met while presenting in Australia | | | | No matter what material must be memorized, show |
| taught me that if you learn this as "Super Man Helps | | | | your children how to call upon their strengths--using |
| Every One" (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario), | | | | color, humor, music, rhyme, etc.--to learn it and be able |
| then you've memorized them in geographical order! | | | | to recall it later. |
| Creating acronyms and mnemonic devices are a | | | | ©Copyright held by Alexandra Shires Golon |
| helpful way to memorize a wide variety of material, | | | | (2004). From Golon, A.S., If You Could See the Way I |
| especially if you can make the acronym stand for | | | | Think: A Handbook for Visual-Spatial Kids, Denver |
| something silly, because humor engages the right | | | | (2005): Visual-Spatial Resource. |