How to Make Memorization Easy
As a music and Lego fan, naturally my son knows every last word to the song,"Everything is awesome" - this includes the "Lonely Island" rap part...
Blue skies, bouncy springs, we just named two awesome things A Nobel prize, a piece of string You know what's awesome? EVERYTHING! Dogs with fleas, allergies A book of Greek antiquities Brand new pants, a very old vest Awesome items are the best
Things, dogs, clogs, they're awesome Rocks, clocks, and socks, they're awesome Figs, and wigs, and twigs, that's awesome Everything you see or think or say is awesome
I laugh as Josh rattles through these words and realize he knows the lyrics not because of a photographic memory, but because he listens and repeats the song ad nauseam. The brain absorbs what's repeated.
As parents, Billy and I look for strategies to utilize some of our kids' brain power for ideas besides the fact that clogs are awesome. We have the "truth wall" and regularly listen to music with positive lyrics, but we also want our kids to know God's words and proverbs. We want them to have positive truths buried in their hearts so when they have tough days, they will remember they are loved; when they debate how they should treat others, they will resist the pull of impatience and hate.
The most effective way we've found to do this is what I call Stair-step Memory.
Begin by counting the number of steps in your house. Then cut up paper so you will have one piece to use on each step. We have 13 steps, so that's how many strips of paper I need. Then find a verse you want to remember and break it up so you can fit the entire verse on the amount of papers you have.I had 15 words to write, so I had to double up in two places (including the "address" of the verse). Plan out what you're going to write in advance so everything is evenly spaced. After writing out the words, just tape one word on each step.I always have the verse going up the stairs (instead of down) because it's so much easier to read. Now all you have to do is say each word as you climb the stairs. Most of the time the words give you a perfect rhythm for each step.
Everyone in the family participates, so not only are you saying the words yourself, you also get to hear everyone else saying the words. After a day or two of climbing the stairs, one of us removes a paper and we have to fill in the word from memory. Then every day we remove another word and rely on memory rather than the words.Before long all of the paper is gone and the words are in your head rather than at your feet - and that is when Everything is REALLY Awesome!