Are you ready for a some FUN? The Toolkit is where you will see start using these tools in your own life, to remember pretty much anything you want.
Yes, that’s right. You can use these tools how you see fit, and YES, they are the most powerful memory techniques used in the world of yesterday and today.
Just ask any reigning memory champion from any where in the world. These are the tools they use.
But more importantly, you will begin to learn how to teach them, which is what Teachmemory.org is all about.
As an educator, you probably already know some great strategies to help your students memorize. Have you ever used songs in the classroom? How about chunking?
Not only are there are seemingly countless memorization tools that one can use, more and more are being created all the time by educators everywhere.
Although these more common tools are also very effective and should be used broadly, there are many more less common tools that pack a bit more punch. In my experience, these tools, especially when used in combination with others, can lead to results that are nothing less than extraordinary.
And you can begin to learn them RIGHT HERE in the Basic Toolkit.
The Basic Toolkit
The Basic Toolkit features tools such as peg lists and linking methods. These tools are relatively easy to explain and perform. Knowing the basic tools will prepare you for learning the advanced tools.
More importantly, they are also the building blocks of what the best mnemonists in the world use to remember massive amounts of information.
The best part is you get to start using them– in YOUR life– right away!
Let’s take a look at the tools in the Teach Memory Tool Box as of the time of this post.
- Body Peg list
- Number Peg List
- Alphabet Peg List
- The Memory Palace
For most of the posts in the Lessons Section of this site, you will use one or more of these basic tools. The tool(s) you will need for each Lesson will be at the top of the post for that lesson, and will be required as a prerequisite to teaching that lesson.
As the site expands, there will be other tools offered that will expand your toolkit, but you should be able to obtain substantial results with this basic set.
The memory palace is likely to be used by middle-school aged students and up, but this is not a rule. In fact, it is going to depend on the students and how you choose to implement them.
The memory palace is not complicated techniques, but it does take a little more time to introduce and use in an academic context.
No doubt, if you spend a fair amount of time in the world of mnemonics, you will start customizing tools to fit your purposes. Hopefully, you will share those ideas and help move all formalized education in a more positive, effective direction.
Keep in mind that, by learning these techniques, you are joining an exclusive club. The world of memory athletes and instructors is both small and growing quickly. There is a lot out there, so do not be afraid to explore beyond this site.
It is encouraged!
Where Do These Tools Come From?
The memory techniques used on this site are often centuries old, some dating back to over a thousand years ago.
Because the history of these techniques are not the topic of this post however, I would highly recommend becoming familiar with the work of Dr. Lynne Kelly. Her relatively recent research has done a major service to the history of mnemonics, and her findings have given even greater credibility to the efficacy of these techniques throughout history.
You can visit her site here.
How Do I Know What Tools to Use?
Each Lesson on this site (lessons appear under the Workroom menu tab) will show the prerequisite tools at the top of each post.
Technically, you only need to learn the tools that pertain to the lesson that you want to teach; However, learning them all will give you options. You may find that another method works better than what is recommended in the lesson.
That would be FANTASTIC!
Being able to customize the lessons to fit YOU would demonstrate a true understanding of how the techniques work.
NOTE: Beyond the basic toolkit, there will be other tools offered continually on this site, some of which will expand on the basic tools listed above.
These advanced tools, such as the Major system and the memory palace (as some call it), will further reduce time spent memorizing as well improve quantity and retention time.
Please take your time with the tools. Practice with them. Have some FUN with them. The more you work with these tools, the better you will be able to use them, and more importantly, the better you will be able to teach them to your students.
By mastering these tools, you will be able to provide the students tips on using them more effectively. This will pay big dividends in the results the students achieve, which will only further build their motivation.
Learn the Tools in Order
Though I do not think it would be a catastrophic disaster to learn these tools out of order, they are written to be learned in order. Information is given in some posts that may be handy in posts that were meant to be read later.
This is just a recommendation. As everything else on this site, feel free to experiment!
Are You Ready?
Before moving on, It cannot be overstated that, in order to get the full benefit of these tools and this website, you MUST commit to using these tools until you feel you are able to teach others to use them.
THE GOOD NEWS: these tools are FUN to practice, and you should notice them working right away.
Don’t Forget to Share!
Please make sure you share your experiences, good or bad, in the comments under the post. The advancement of using mnemonic techniques in the classroom is a growing across the world, and you, as an educator reading this page, are in on the ground floor. To continue to grow this site in the right way, we need to hear from YOU!
Thank you for spending some time in this community.
I am truly excited for the journey you are about to take.
Cheers!
