We don't usually analyze a task we are doing to figure out how to do it. When teaching children, we need to break down into smaller units. That way, they can remember each step. An example is teaching a child how to make his bed. There are several steps needed to accomplish the task: straightening the sheets and blankets, pulling the sheets/blankets toward the top of the bed, putting the pillow at the top of the bed, pulling the bedspread or comforter up to the pillow, and pulling the bedspread over the pillow (if one is used) before putting stuffed toys or usually collections on top of the bed.
Multiple step sequences are difficult to remember. Think back to 8th or 9th grade when a teacher may have required you to memorize the preamble to the U.S. Constitution ("We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union....etc."). All those words, most of which we didn't understand then (and may not even now) meant little to us. And that is exactly the problem: there is no meaning in the task. We did it because it was required for our grade, and our success levels may not have been very good. One thing is for sure, we forgot most of it as soon as we were done reciting it, but we probably still remember only the beginning. Studying for many tests ended with the same results.
How did we memorize a selection? Most of us began at the beginning and slowly added more phrases or sentences each time we started. We know the beginning because it was the most repeated part of what we memorized. Children all memorize the alphabet by kindergarten. The easiest way is for them to sing the alphabet song, so easy that many high school students must silently sing it to themselves when they have to alphabetize something. The problem is that many children never learn the end (anything after p, q, r, s, or t) of the alphabet well, because it is the least repeated and used portion.
A better way to memorize
A technique called reverse chaining is a better way to memorize. You start at the end of the task and slowly add on new phrases or sentences at the beginning before repeating what you have already retained. For example: in making the bed the first step would be pulling the spread over the pillow; in the Preamble, the first portion attempted would be "...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America"; and in the alphabet we would start at "u, v, w, x, y and z." For each task, the preceding step, phrase or sentence, or group of letters would be stated first (while still in short term memory) before repeating what is in long term memory. That way we are building successes each step of the way because the endings are more emotionally challenging with all that has gone before. When the child finally gets to the beginning of the sequence, he has already proven he can do the rest of it successfully with little effort.
The human mind easily remembers a maximum of 7 bits of new information. When that information has been learned, it can become 1 bit when new is added. By sequentially increasing the number of known bits, fewer new bits need to be added for success. When a child is emotionally charged with any task, those nerves make accomplishing the task more difficult. Small, easy steps with built-in success keep the child motivated. A motivated child does not resist new tasks or situations. How easy would life be if we didn't resist what we needed to do, learn, or show others?
All children can succeed in school. Parents can help their children by teaching the foundational skills that schools presume children have. Without the foundation for schools' academic instruction, children needlessly struggle and/or fail. Their future becomes affected because they then believe they are less than others, not able to succeed or achieve or provide for themselves or their families. Visit http://parentsteachkids.com to learn how to directly help your child and http://easyschoolsuccess.com to learn what is needed for education reform efforts to be successful.
By Jennifer Little
Multiple step sequences are difficult to remember. Think back to 8th or 9th grade when a teacher may have required you to memorize the preamble to the U.S. Constitution ("We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union....etc."). All those words, most of which we didn't understand then (and may not even now) meant little to us. And that is exactly the problem: there is no meaning in the task. We did it because it was required for our grade, and our success levels may not have been very good. One thing is for sure, we forgot most of it as soon as we were done reciting it, but we probably still remember only the beginning. Studying for many tests ended with the same results.
How did we memorize a selection? Most of us began at the beginning and slowly added more phrases or sentences each time we started. We know the beginning because it was the most repeated part of what we memorized. Children all memorize the alphabet by kindergarten. The easiest way is for them to sing the alphabet song, so easy that many high school students must silently sing it to themselves when they have to alphabetize something. The problem is that many children never learn the end (anything after p, q, r, s, or t) of the alphabet well, because it is the least repeated and used portion.
A better way to memorize
A technique called reverse chaining is a better way to memorize. You start at the end of the task and slowly add on new phrases or sentences at the beginning before repeating what you have already retained. For example: in making the bed the first step would be pulling the spread over the pillow; in the Preamble, the first portion attempted would be "...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America"; and in the alphabet we would start at "u, v, w, x, y and z." For each task, the preceding step, phrase or sentence, or group of letters would be stated first (while still in short term memory) before repeating what is in long term memory. That way we are building successes each step of the way because the endings are more emotionally challenging with all that has gone before. When the child finally gets to the beginning of the sequence, he has already proven he can do the rest of it successfully with little effort.
The human mind easily remembers a maximum of 7 bits of new information. When that information has been learned, it can become 1 bit when new is added. By sequentially increasing the number of known bits, fewer new bits need to be added for success. When a child is emotionally charged with any task, those nerves make accomplishing the task more difficult. Small, easy steps with built-in success keep the child motivated. A motivated child does not resist new tasks or situations. How easy would life be if we didn't resist what we needed to do, learn, or show others?
All children can succeed in school. Parents can help their children by teaching the foundational skills that schools presume children have. Without the foundation for schools' academic instruction, children needlessly struggle and/or fail. Their future becomes affected because they then believe they are less than others, not able to succeed or achieve or provide for themselves or their families. Visit http://parentsteachkids.com to learn how to directly help your child and http://easyschoolsuccess.com to learn what is needed for education reform efforts to be successful.
By Jennifer Little
Post a Comment