Music
and we do so before I start to the see glazed look over the eyes . Have you seen that ? When there is little movement occurring , it is inevitable ! I will never forget the year I was returning to present at the AMLE Conference and a young man started to enter my session , but he stopped and backed up . He looked me in the eyes and said , “ I think I ’ ve been in a session of yours before . Do you do this ?” and proceeded to lift his arm up and model a movement we had done the year before to learn about myelin sheath on a neuron . I laughed and said , “ That ’ s me !”. What struck me later is that it had been a whole year since he had seen me and what ’ s the first thing he recalled ? Movement .
Music
It ’ s not just for the little ones ! Oh no ! What a powerful tool to memory . As a matter of fact , they are using music with Alzheimer patients to help them retain information . Think about a time you got in your car and you haven ’ t heard the song playing since your childhood . Can ’ t you sing almost every word to that song ? It ’ s crazy ! Music has a way with rhythm and rhyme ( or patterns ) to stick like glue in our brain . Case in point , I came across one of my former students , she was 12 when I had her , who was now 19 . We reunited and got caught up , when her next words shocked me . She said , “ I can still sing you that song .” I said , what song ? She was referencing the one I had taught that incorporated 15 countries of the Middle East , three religions and the continent . Now I completely understand this was rote memorization . Some of what must be learned is . I reflected on the fact that I could have given them the list and done a typical paper-and-pencil test that maybe they would have held in their heads for a few days or weeks . Instead , seven years later , a student can recall it since it ’ s in a song .
Emotions , Movement and Music are three of my favorite keys to memory retention . Although each one is powerful , it ’ s the proof of learning and remembering that gets me fired up ! Let ’ s do the same for you and your learners . Fire up those neurons and make learning FUN . One of the most common comments I get regarding adding in these “ extras ” is , “ I don ’ t have time with all I have to teach !” To enter into the memory kingdom , you don ’ t have time to not do just that ( yes , a double negative because it ’ s that important ). At the end of the day we can say we taught it , but the question remains …. did they learn it ?
LaVonna Roth is the energetic personality behind Minds That Matter and is an internationally known brain-powered educational consultant , author , and presenter . She is a regular presenter at many events including the Common Core Institute and Center for College and Career Readiness . She is the creator and founder of Ignite Your S . H . I . N . E .® and the author of Brain- Powered Strategies to Engage All Learners and Brain-Powered Lessons to Engage All Learners .
STEAMed Magazine
44
January 2017 Edition