Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Importance of Memorization

This is an article I read recently on memorization. I usually write Scripture or poems on a paper and hang them up so we are constantly reminded of them. This helps the visual learners in our family! :-) Hope you enjoy this.


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Memorization: a simple, effective, and often-forgotten method of learning.

Why should your child memorize Scripture and poetry? Memorization stocks the mind with beautiful language. It influences the heart by providing fodder for meditation. Besides, it's fun!

Getting Started

Begin by reading aloud the passage you would like to memorize. Read it again. And read it once more. Do this frequently: at mealtimes, before rest times, or at other times that work well for your family. Soon, your child will be able to say the passage along with you. Keep doing this, and someday you will hear him recite the passage to a friend, grandparent, or even to himself as he plays. After introducing one passage, you can add another until you are working on several simultaneously. When the passage has been over-learned, the frequency of reading (by now, reciting) can be reduced. You can find a more thorough explanation of this method in Ruth Beechick's book, A Biblical Home Education (B & H Publishing Group, 2007).

Memorization stocks the mind with beautiful language. It influences the heart by providing fodder for meditation. Besides, it's fun!

For our family, I print out the Scripture passage or poem we are memorizing and place it at the beginning of my notebook (right behind the attendance chart). We start our lessons each day by reading and reciting poems and Scriptures.

Memorization Practice

I suggest that you begin your family habit of memorization with one of the following poems:

The first comes from Sing-Song by Christina Rossetti (Dover, 1968).

Brown and furry
Caterpillar in a hurry,
Take your walk
To the shady leaf, or stalk,
Or what not,
Which may be the chosen spot.
No toad spy you,
Hovering bird of prey pass by you;
Spin and die,
To live again a butterfly.

October's Party
by George Cooper

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came-
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed;
The lovely Misses Maple
In scarlet looked their best;
All balanced to their partners,
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow
New fallen from the sky.
Then, in the rustic hollow,
At hide-and-seek they played,
The party closed at sundown,
And everybody stayed.
Professor Wind played louder;
They flew along the ground;
And then the party ended
In jolly "hands around."
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