How We Remember

HOW WE REMEMBER

by Terri L. White

On Monday your son was given a list of twenty-five new words to spell and define by Friday. How is he going to master the words so that he remembers them? Will he put them on flash cards complete with word-association pictures? Perhaps he will record the spelling and definition of each on a cassette to listen to while he does his chores at home. He could even tape the words on twenty-five different pieces of furniture all over the house, timing himself as he races to each word. These are examples of the three basic ways of remembering information: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. We all use each in varying degrees, but will have one style that dominates how we remember. Use the following chart by Cynthia Tobias (The Way They Learn, p. 90) to decide whether you and your children are auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learners. (If you are still unsure which style you are after checking the chart, try out each approach until you find one that fits you.)

Auditory

I need to hear myself say it in order to remember it.

I often need to talk through a problem aloud in order to solve it.

I memorize best by repeating the information aloud or to myself over and over.

I remember best when the information fits into a rhythmic or musical pattern.

I would rather listen to a recording of a book than sit and read it.

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Visual

I need to see an illustration of what I’m being taught before I understand it.

I am drawn to flashy, colorful, visually stimulating objects.

I almost always prefer books that include pictures or illustrations with the text.

I look like I’m "daydreaming" when I’m trying to get a mental picture of what’s being said.

I usually remember better when I can actually see the person who is talking.

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Kinesthetic

I have difficulty sitting still for more than a few minutes at a time.

I usually learn best by physically participating in a task.

I almost always have some part of my body in motion.

I prefer to read books or hear stories that are full of action.

AUDITORY -- learn by listening

Auditory learners need to learn by listening -- especially from their own voices. You will find them reading aloud, talking to themselves, and repeating instructions. Facts set to rhythms or songs are especially helpful for auditory learners. When learning words and their meanings, they will focus on how the word sounds. Audio cassettes are a great boon for these types of learners. You can help your auditory learners by drilling them verbally and minimizing the visual distractions in their study area.

VISUAL -- learn by seeing and watching

Visual learners picture in their minds what they are learning, and unfortunately, this is often mistaken for daydreaming. They associate pictures with words or concepts. Colorful flashcards and books with colorful pictures help them focus, also. Instead of audio cassettes, make use of films to help your visual learners remember information. Encourage them to underline or highlight in notes / books and let them draw pictures or take notes while listening.

KINESTHETIC -- learn by doing

Kinesthetic learners like to move a lot. They are fidgety because they must put action into learning or they will not remember the information. Their short attention spans require frequent breaks during study time. Science experiments, hands-on projects, and lots of exercise are musts for kinesthetic learners. In addition, however, the action may be as simple as pacing while memorizing a list of facts. They might even associate certain body movements with the facts to be learned. Allow them to use their imaginations and give them the freedom to move, and they will learn. If they must sit through a lecture, let them take notes or doodle; this milder form of action will give them something to do while having to sit still.

There is not a good, better, or best way to remember information. It is simply a matter of the way our individual minds work. In Psalm 139 David said that he was "fearfully and wonderfully made" [by God]. This is an awesome fact that can help us appreciate the differences between people, and the way we learn.

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