Memory and Study Aids Mack Gipson, Jr. Tutorial and Enrichment Center Gayla S. Keesee Education Specialist

Build Good Habits Positive Thinking Build confidence; set goals Self-Management Be aware of how you learn Hierarchical Thinking Prioritizing & organizing Creative & Critical Thinking Problem-solving & synthesizing Asking Questions Focus, Motivation, Active learning

Positive Thinking

Build confidence; set goals

Self-Management

Be aware of how you learn

Hierarchical Thinking

Prioritizing & organizing

Creative & Critical Thinking

Problem-solving & synthesizing

Asking Questions

Focus, Motivation, Active learning

Complete the Learning Cycle Memorize new information, rules and concepts Assimilate and organize new information Use information to analyze, synthesize and problem-solve Incorporate information into evaluations, judgments and predictions

Memorize new information, rules and concepts

Assimilate and organize new information

Use information to analyze, synthesize and problem-solve

Incorporate information into evaluations, judgments and predictions

Memory and Study Aids

Memory and Study Aids Visual aids/word associations Drawings, Pictures, Models Graphic Organizers Diagrams and Charts—Tables/Grids Flashcards

Visual aids/word associations

Drawings, Pictures, Models

Graphic Organizers

Diagrams and Charts—Tables/Grids

Flashcards

Visual Aids Drawings, pictures, models Physically create visual elements Drawings or pictures of definitions Pictures of situations where the word would be used Draw crazy visual associations

Drawings, pictures, models

Physically create visual elements

Drawings or pictures of definitions

Pictures of situations where the word would be used

Draw crazy visual associations

Word Associations Façade—false, superficial, or artificial appearance FACE—false face

Façade—false, superficial, or artificial appearance

FACE—false face

Benign—kindly, gentle Be + 9 + 9 Word Associations

Benign—kindly, gentle

Be + 9

+ 9

Visual Aids Create a graphic organizer in which you answer the following questions What is it? (Category) Other forms (Change part of speech) What is it like? (Properties) What are some examples? (Illustrations) Learning Styles: Writing (tactile) and reading (visual)

Create a graphic organizer in which you answer the following questions

What is it? (Category)

Other forms (Change part of speech)

What is it like? (Properties)

What are some examples? (Illustrations)

Learning Styles:

Writing (tactile) and reading (visual)

Cynic What is it? noun, kind of person Other forms: adj.—cynical adv.—cynically noun—cynicism What is it like? pessimistic, scornful, sneering, contemptuous, distrustful, sarcastic Examples: Someone who doesn’t think democracy can be honest and efficient Someone who believes that human conduct is motivated solely by self-interest

What is it? noun, kind of person

Other forms: adj.—cynical

adv.—cynically

noun—cynicism

What is it like? pessimistic, scornful, sneering, contemptuous, distrustful, sarcastic

Examples: Someone who doesn’t think democracy can be honest and efficient

Someone who believes that human conduct is motivated solely by self-interest

Diagrams Charts Table or grid — possible headings Word Meaning Part of speech Word Structure Roots, prefixes, suffixes Number of syllables Common Usage Describes people Describes places Describes things

Table or grid — possible headings

Word Meaning

Part of speech

Word Structure

Roots, prefixes, suffixes

Number of syllables

Common Usage

Describes people

Describes places

Describes things

Categorization Grid Words to describe people Timid Cynical Pessimistic Flippant Uncouth Malicious Garrulous Morose Obtuse Diligent Arrogant Pompous

Flashcards Create flashcards to help you study Don’t make too small 4x6 are best Carry them with you Review them often Break into small groups for easier learning Shuffle frequently so you don’t learn a pattern

Create flashcards to help you study

Don’t make too small

4x6 are best

Carry them with you

Review them often

Break into small groups for easier learning

Shuffle frequently so you don’t learn a pattern

Flashcards—Advantages Chunks information into smaller categories to aid memory Nouns—persons, places, things Verbs—plural/singular or tenses Phrases—common usage Use of color signals categories different colored cards highlighters

Chunks information into smaller categories to aid memory

Nouns—persons, places, things

Verbs—plural/singular or tenses

Phrases—common usage

Use of color signals categories

different colored cards

highlighters

Flashcards—Advantages Use either written or visual information Easily rearranged and sorted Do not learn the words in a fixed order. Learn only words need to remember . Can be used for different purposes Lists of items Grammar rules Quiz prep —questions/answers

Use either written or visual information

Easily rearranged and sorted

Do not learn the words in a fixed order.

Learn only words need to remember .

Can be used for different purposes

Lists of items

Grammar rules

Quiz prep —questions/answers

Flashcards—Advantages Size and portability easy to carry use for short, frequent reviews review in spare time that is often wasted—like waiting in line or between classes. Physically moving and manipulating the cards incorporates tactile learning

Size and portability

easy to carry

use for short, frequent reviews

review in spare time that is often wasted—like waiting in line or between classes.

Physically moving and manipulating the cards incorporates tactile learning

Flashcards—Advantages Writing down the material on cards aids your memory in itself. 76 repetitions of information to go into long term memory

Writing down the material on cards aids your memory in itself.

76 repetitions of information to go into long term memory

One Way to Study At least once a day , go through your pack of index cards—spend 10-15 minutes each time. Sort the cards into two stacks —those you know and those you do not know. Periodically review the entire set of words to keep them fresh in your mind.

At least once a day , go through your pack of index cards—spend 10-15 minutes each time.

Sort the cards into two stacks —those you know and those you do not know.

Periodically review the entire set of words to keep them fresh in your mind.

When to Use Flashcards Study your vocabulary for 10-15 minutes a day Riding the bus Riding in a car Before bed When you get up in the morning Waiting in line Doing your laundry

Study your vocabulary for 10-15 minutes a day

Riding the bus

Riding in a car

Before bed

When you get up in the morning

Waiting in line

Doing your laundry

What to Include:

Flashcards Conglomerate con-glom’-er-it Def: an organization comprising two or more companies that produce unrelated products. EX: Nichols company owns a shoe factory, vineyards in France, soft drink factories, and Sara Jane pastry . Front Back

Flashcards Definition—Picture Two-sided Word and picture on front side Context sentence on back side The diligent student worked hard on his homework. Diligent

Definition—Picture

Two-sided

Word and picture on front side

Context sentence on back side

Study Tips Do your studying in relatively small chunks 45-60 minutes at a time Study vocabulary several times a day 5-10 minutes at a time

Do your studying in relatively small chunks

45-60 minutes at a time

Study vocabulary several times a day

5-10 minutes at a time

Study Tips When studying, use as many senses as possible Speaking—say the word Listening—hear you or someone else Writing—physically practice writing the words Reading—words in context Act-out the definitions

When studying, use as many senses as possible

Speaking—say the word

Listening—hear you or someone else

Writing—physically practice writing the words

Reading—words in context

Act-out the definitions

Study Tips Be an interactive learner Study with a friend Start a study group Make up sentences together Quiz each other Create crossword puzzles and exchange them

Be an interactive learner

Study with a friend

Start a study group

Make up sentences together

Quiz each other

Create crossword puzzles and exchange them

Study Tips Be an active learner Say the words out loud Write the words Record words/definitions on a cassette and play over & over Practice saying new words out loud

Be an active learner

Say the words out loud

Write the words

Record words/definitions on a cassette and play over & over

Practice saying new words out loud

Study Tips Use new vocabulary Conversations Essays, reports Letters Notice when others use your vocabulary words radio, TV magazines, newspapers

Use new vocabulary

Conversations

Essays, reports

Letters

Notice when others use your vocabulary words

radio, TV

magazines, newspapers

Study Tips Don’t refer to your vocabulary list as you do your homework Review material before starting homework Work from memory Complete the entire exercise, then check your work

Don’t refer to your vocabulary list as you do your homework

Review material before starting homework

Work from memory

Complete the entire exercise, then check your work

Study Tips Practice seeing the new word in context Create simple sentences about a specific context Describe what is happening in that setting home, school, work, Augusta Mall, movie theater…

Practice seeing the new word in context

Create simple sentences about a specific context

Describe what is happening in that setting

home, school, work, Augusta Mall, movie theater…

Don’t Don’t panic Normal not to master new vocabulary on the first try Constant practice and review are essential Don’t study for long periods without a break Memory overload

Don’t panic

Normal not to master new vocabulary on the first try

Constant practice and review are essential

Don’t study for long periods without a break

Memory overload

Have Fun! Learning is a lifelong process. Develop good habits now, and they will last forever.

Learning is a lifelong process. Develop good habits now, and they will last forever.