Kevin Wasielewski
Alex Gagnon
Tom Denten
Scott Fenwick
SPED 410 – Summer 2010
“Big Question” Introduction
After our presentation, will you be
able to remember 3 researchbased strategies or instructional
techniques that will help improve
your students’ memories and
provide an example of how you
would incorporate each one into
your practice?
Context
 To be successful in school, students depend on memory strategies
 Students need tools to help them retrieve information via the use of
memory strategies.
 It is likely that special-needs students will have difficulty activating
memorized information
 Research shows that memory strategies are particularly useful for
students with learning disabilities .
 There are several instructional practices and strategies that teachers
can implement to aide in enhancing students’ memories.
Your Objectives
 Become familiar with memory strategies and
instructional methods that will help your students
remember what they learn
 Experience working on a particular memory strategy
 Remember several examples of memory strategies and
instructional methods that you can employ in your
classroom
Examples of Memory Strategies
 Mnemonics = Trigger Techniques
 Acronyms & Acrostics

FIRST-letter strategy
 Phonic & Spelling Mnemonics

Sound/Symbol Correspondence
 Method of Loci
 Keyword Method
Mnemonics by Michael Scott!
http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/lect
ure-circuit/994221/
Mnemonics by Michael Scott!
 All kidding aside, which of the following mnemonic
devices did Michael employ?
 Acronyms
 Acrostics
 FIRST-letter strategy
 Key-word method
 Sound/symbol correspondence
Additional Examples of Memory
Strategies
 Advance Organizers
 “priming the memory”
 examples: notes & vocabulary cards
 Retrieval Practice
 practice tests or quizzes
 Short-term Strategies
 active reading, i.e. underlining and highlighting
 reading before going to bed and nothing else in-between
 Motor Images
 Enhance memory through physical activity
 example: “Econ Cheer”
The Memory Strategy Experience
 Find a partner
 Use your handout
 You and your partner have 3 minutes to create an
acrostic to help you remember at least 4 of the 6
mnemonic strategies listed on your handout
 For example:
Mnemonics is Key for Assisting Special-needs students
(M= method of loci, K = keyword, A = acronyms &
acrostics, S = spelling mnemonics).
Instructional Techniques to
Enhance Students’ Memories
 Cueing
 Activate prior knowledge and connect to new content
knowledge
 Visual/instructional aides such as graphic organizers
 Be careful not to overload information
 teach in small doses, i.e. “chunking”
 Be mindful of pace and rate of presentation of new
information
 Content-area knowledge: Review, Rehearse, Apply, Repeat
 i.e., learning for mastery
 Teach strategies
Back to the “Big Question”
Without referencing your handout, can
you remember 3 research-based strategies or
instructional techniques that will help
improve your students’ memories and
provide an example of how you would
incorporate each one into your practice?
SPED 410 Presentations Wikispace!
 Access detailed information on Memory Strategies and
Mnemonics
 Find articles, weblinks, and resources about Memory
Strategies and Mnemonics
 Please share your group’s presentation and
information with your colleagues…it’s easy!
 www.SPED410presentations.wikispaces.com