Memory Techniques and other Reading Comprehension Practices

"Memory Snapshot" – Show a simple image or list (e.g., 10 random objects or words) for 30 seconds. Remove it and ask learners to write down what they remember. In pairs, learners discuss:

• How did they try to remember?
• Which items were easiest/hardest to recall?

As a class, discuss what you learned about memory

Talk about why memory and comprehension matter (in school, work, daily life). Explain that memory can be trained using strategies.

Introduce Key Concept:
“Comprehension improves when we create connections, visuals, and structures in our mind.”

What are ways that you use to remember? (as pairs students discuss ideas and share with class)

Today we will learn about three memory techniques: 

Acronyms and Acrostics
➤ Acronym Example: HOMES (Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior)
➤ Acrostic Example: "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos" (Planets)

Chunking – Grouping information into smaller units.
➤ Example: Break a phone number into 3 parts: 415-555-0123.

Visualization – Create a mental image.
➤ Example: Picture a grocery list (milk, apples, fish) as items stacked in a shopping cart.

Write the techniques on the board. In pairs students discuss which techniques they use, when they use them, and how they use them, which one they would like to learn more about.

Here is a little more about these three techniques. As you listen, pairs will select the memory trick they want to learn more about and practice with the idea they will present it and give examples to the class. 

Acronym & Acrostic
🔍 What It Is:
Acronym – A word formed from the first letters of a list.
Acrostic – A sentence where each word starts with a letter from the items to remember.

📘 Examples:
Acronym:

ROYGBIV – Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet (colors of the rainbow)
SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
Acrostic:

“Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” – Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction
“Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge” – EGBDF (lines of the treble clef in music)

💬 Discussion Questions: Turn to your partner to answer the questions then share with the class.
Which is easier to remember—acronyms or acrostics? Why?
How could acronyms help in your job or studies?
What would make a good acronym or acrostic memorable?

Chunking
🔍 What It Is:
Breaking down large amounts of information into smaller, more manageable units (chunks) to improve memory.

📘 Examples:
Phone number: 8005551234 → 800-555-1234
Credit card: 4580123478904321 → 4580 1234 7890 4321
Sentence: “Thequickbrownfoxjumpsoverthelazydog” → The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

💬 Discussion Questions: discuss with your partner then share with the class
When do you already use chunking in your daily life without realizing it?
Why does breaking information into chunks help us remember it?
Can chunking work for remembering steps in a process or names?

Visualization
🔍 What It Is:
Creating mental images or “movies” in your mind to represent information, making it easier to recall.

📘 Examples:
For a grocery list (milk, bananas, soap, cat food), imagine a cat taking a bubble bath while drinking milk and eating bananas.
For a set of instructions, visualize each step in a comic strip or cartoon.

💬 Discussion Questions: discuss with your partner and share with the class
Are you a visual thinker? Do you “see” things when you try to remember?
What’s the difference between remembering words vs. remembering pictures?
When would visualization be more effective than reading?

As pairs learners go to Memory Magic Reading Comprehension. 1. Read about Memory techniques. 2. Answer the  questions.

Look at the three techniques and decide which one you would like to share with the class. Give an example from your own ideas/experience. Fill out the Document, Memory Techniques.

Learner pairs share what they learned about their memory technique and give an example.

Together or individually:

Create Your Own

• Make an acronym for these study steps: Preview, Question, Read, Recite, Review
• Visualize this list: toothbrush, passport, shoes, sunscreen. Describe your image.
• Use chunking to memorize this number: 867530912

As part of the Document, Memory Techniques, learner pairs created 5 quiz questions. For a later day gather those questions and share with the class as a discussion or a quiz.

Personal Strategy Planner
Learners choose 2 memory techniques to apply to their real-life learning goals (e.g., studying for a test, remembering a recipe, prepping for a presentation). 

Reflection Activity: (on a sheet of paper or in a discussion, answer the following questions)

• What will I use?
• Why did I choose it?
• How will it help?