MEMORY AND BRAIN BREAKS
Memory, attention, perception, and motivation all play a role in the learning and focus of a student. Only 1% of information that students learn is retained in memory. The following are some practical suggestions on how to better engage your students so that they are able to remember subject matter.
IMPACTING YOUR STUDENT'S MEMORY
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Memories are heavily influenced by emotions. Using real life examples and stories to teach information can help solidify it in the minds of your students.
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We internalize memories more permanently when we relate new information to past experiences. Challenging students to relate the material to their own life can be a helpful tool in helping them retain the information.
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Teaching material in different ways using varying visual, audio, and physical aids can impact the memory of your students dramatically.
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Use mnemonics! These are rhymes, songs, visual connections, acronyms, etc that help us organize information in our brain. They can be incredibly powerful and we can remember information retained through mnemonics for a very long time.
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Get our students up and moving! Physical activity is a great way to activate neurons that are typically not used in the classroom. Being active releases endorphins in the brain that can assist in encoding new information. This also helps translate sensory input into meaningful stimuli.
BRAIN BREAKS
Brain breaks are short exercises that can be implemented into any class at any time. They are essential in a culture where the average attention span is only a few minutes. Use these tricks to mix it up and get your students back on track!
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Have your students stand up and talk to one person they have not talked to today. Have them ask each other their favorite color, if they prefer mountains or the beach, and one question of their choice.
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Have your students stand behind their pushed-in chairs. Call out a trait, and everyone who has that trait must change places with someone else. Students who do not possess that trait stay where they are.
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Call out a color or other trait (e.g. something round, something made of wood), and students must find an object in the room that fits the trait and get to it quickly.
