10 Memorization Techniques for Students

10 Effective Memorization Techniques for Students

Is memorization a challenge for your students? Whether it’s memorizing facts for a test, vocabulary for language arts, or math formulas, these simple memory techniques can make all the difference!  With these proven techniques, mastering facts, sequences, or concepts becomes easier and more enjoyable. By applying these strategies, students can improve their recall and confidently approach any test or quiz.

Lesson Handout

This handout includes definitions and examples of the ten memorization techniques and the  Memorization Technique Trail Game. 

10 Memorization Techniques

Technique #1 – Name Mnemonics

Memorization Technique Name Mnemonics

Name mnemonics can be a game-changer when students need to memorize items in a specific order. Each letter in the name corresponds to the first letter of each item in the sequence.

Example:

ROY G. BIV helps students remember the colors of the spectrum in order:

Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet

 

HOMER
This name can help students remember the five elements of story structure:

  • Hook
  • Overview
  • Main Events
  • Ending
  • Resolution

Technique #2 – Sentence Mnemonics (Acrostics)

Memorization Technique Sentences Mnemonics
Sentences Mnemonics

Another method for memorizing sequences is using acrostics or sentence mnemonics. Students can more easily recall the information by converting the first letters of a list into a memorable sentence.

Here are some popular examples:

The Seven Articles of the U.S. Constitution:

Large Elephants Jump Slowly And Sink Rapidly.

(Legislative, Executive, Judicial, Supremacy, Amendment, Statehood, Ratification)

 

Order of Mathematical Operations:

Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally.


(Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, Subtraction)

To recall which U.S. statesman portrayed on each denomination of the dollar bill…

When Juries Lack Honor, Justice Gets Forgotten.

George Washington ($1)
Thomas Jefferson ($2)
Abraham Lincoln ($5)
Alexander Hamilton ($10)
Andrew Jackson ($20)
Ulysses S. Grant ($50)
Benjamin Franklin ($100)

 

Order of Mathematical Operations:

The 7 levels of classification of living things…

Kids Prefer Cheese Over Fried Green Spinach.

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Technique #3 – Method of Loci

Memorization Technique Method of Loci

The Method of Loci is a powerful technique that ties information to specific locations. Students visualize each item they need to remember as being placed in a particular spot in a room, house, or even along a familiar route.

Example:

To memorize the first 10 U.S. Presidents, students might imagine each president in a different corner or wall of their classroom. This visualization helps them recall the presidents in the correct order.

Method of Loci
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Technique #4 – Acronyms

Memorization Technique Acronyms
Acronyms

Acronyms are another effective way to memorize lists, especially when the order isn’t critical. 

Challenge students to develop their own catchy acronyms to remember their current vocabulary words!

Here are some well-known examples:

HOMES helps students recall the names of the five Great Lakes.

H: Huron
O: Ontario
M: Michigan
E: Erie
S: Superior

FANBOYS helps students remember the seven conjunctions.

F: for
A: and
N: nor
B: but
O: or
Y: yet
S: so

 

PIES names four purposes of writing.

P: Persuade
I: Inform
E: Entertain
S: Share Feelings

 

 FACTS identifies the symptoms of flu.

F: fever
A: aches
C: chills
T: tiredness
S: sudden onset

Technique #5 – Rhymes

Memorization Technique Rhymes
Rhymes

Rhymes can be an effective tool for memorizing information. Songs, jingles, and rhymes often stick in our minds much longer than plain text.

Challenge students to create their own rhymes for vocabulary words, math formulas, or historical facts to make learning more engaging and personal.

Here are some well-known examples:

To remember how many days each month contains, learn this short poem.

30 days hath September, April, June, and November.
All the rest have 31
Except February my dear son.
It has 28 and that is fine
But in Leap Year it has 29.

To identify poison ivy:

Leaflets of three, let it be.

 

This rhyme helps students remember the spelling rule.

Use “i” before “e” except after “c” or in sounding like “ay” as in neighbor or weigh.

This poem helps predict the upcoming weather.

Red sky at night
Sailor’s delight
Red sky in the morning
Sailors take warning

 

Technique #6 – Making Connections with Association, Chunking, and Visualization

Memorization Technique

Association

Encourage students to make connections between the material they’re trying to learn and something they already know. For instance, they could remember that “Whitney has white hair” by associating the name “Whitney” with the word “white.”

Chunking

This technique involves breaking down information into smaller, more manageable chunks. For example, instead of memorizing a 10-digit phone number as a long string, students can break it down into groups like 423-722-4692.

Visualization

Students should draw pictures, diagrams, or charts to help them remember information. Visual elements are often easier to recall than text.

Technique #7 – Spelling Rules

Tricks for Remembering Spelling Rules Memorization Technique

Spelling can be tricky, but using clever mnemonic devices can help. Here are some popular examples:

She screamed EEE as she passed the cEmEtEry.

Remember that “cemetery” has three E’s like the scream “EEE.”

Stationery is for writing a letter, and both end in ‘er.’”

“i” before “e except after “c.”

 

Dessert is so sweet:

“Dessert” has two S’s because it is so sweet, unlike a “desert.”

Technique #8 – Alliteration or Repeated Words

Alliteration or Repeated Letter Memorization Technique

Alliteration, or the repetition of initial consonant sounds, can make information more memorable. For example, students might remember… 

Science: Layers of the Atmosphere

Tom’s Smiling Monkeys Try Exciting Tricks

Each word stands for a layer: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere.

 

History: World War II Allied Powers

Big Britain, Bold Bombing, Brave Buddies

This phrase can help students remember the main Allies: Britain, the United States (Bombing represents the air warfare involvement), and the Soviet Union (Brave Buddies).

Math: Multiplication Process

Multiply Mighty Many Numbers

This phrase helps students remember the steps of long multiplication: Multiply each digit, Mighty refers to shifting left for each new row (as if the numbers are growing mightier), and Many Numbers reminds them to add up all the rows to get the final result.

Technique #9 – Chaining

Chaining Memorization Technique

Chaining involves creating a story where each word cues the next. This technique can be especially useful for recalling sequences of information.

Example: 

To remember the order of the planets, a student might tell a story about a mother who eagerly served different foods (representing the planets) to her children.

 

“My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nachos.”

This story-like sentence helps students remember the order of the planets from the sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Memorization Techniques Video
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Technique #10 – Physical Movement

Chaining Memorization Technique

Research has shown that physical activity can enhance memory. For instance, walking while reciting multiplication tables can improve recall by up to 25%. Similarly, handwriting notes rather than typing them can lead to better retention.

  • Pro Tip: Encourage students to review study sheets right before bed. Studies suggest that reviewing material before sleep helps the brain solidify the information during rest.2
Memorization Technique Game

Engage your students with the Memorization Techniques Trail Game! In this interactive game, students will move along a trail, answering questions that challenge them to explain, identify, and give examples of various memorization techniques. Along the way, they’ll encounter special event spaces that add excitement and variety to the game. It’s a fun and educational way to reinforce key memorization strategies while keeping students actively involved in learning.

Try incorporating these memorization techniques into your teaching routine. They not only make learning more interactive and fun but also significantly improve students’ ability to retain information.

 

Ready to make memorizing fun for your students? Download the lesson handout and start with the Trail Game to turn these techniques into a lasting skill set! 

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