Our Memories at Work

Wait a second.  I can’t remember what I wanted to post this weekend.  I know it was important…oh, right.  Memory.

As teachers we spend an awful lot of time deciding what is important for our students to know and how best to teach that information.  Whether content or skills, we hope to teach that which will them well as they move through their lives.  We would do well to consider constructing lessons with retention in mind, too.  How can we help our students not only learn the material presented in class but also remember it for more than a day or two?

Where did it all go? offers four strategies that will help.  The fourth, Mental Glue, is of particular interest. 

Additionally, the book Memory: at work in the classroom by Bailey and Pransky addresses the issue of improving student memory. “In Memory at Work in the Classroom, Francis Bailey and Ken Pransky expertly guide you through the aspects of human memory most relevant to classroom teachers. 

Real classroom examples help to deepen your understanding of how memory systems play a central role in the learning process, as well as how culture plays a sometimes surprising role in memory formation and use.” 

I have a copy so let me know if you want to borrow it.