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Method of Loci to Help Remember

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Study Skills & Tools All Ages Strategy

Skills

Verbal Memory Visual Memory

Method of Loci to Help Remember

If your student is having trouble remembering key details and enjoys storytelling and/or has stronger visual-spatial skills

Teach It!

  1. Objective: Students will use the method of loci to help them memorize difficult or large quantities of information and/or sequential information.
  2. Direct Instruction: Walk students through the exercise of visually placing facts or distinct pieces of information in particular locations. Have students imagine themselves walking through a familiar location, such as around the house or school. As they do this visual walk-through, have them place each element to be recalled in prominent locations along the route. Then have them practice recalling the information by mentally retracing the route. The mental image of the locations paired with a piece of information along the route will help them remember.
  3. Considerations: This same idea of visualizing a location to remember information can also be helpful if a student has lost or misplaced an item. Have them retrace their steps by visualizing the places they were, such as at their locker, on the playground or at their desk. Prompt the student by reminding them to focus on specific areas of a room, such as at the whiteboard or near the closet.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

The more of our senses we use when learning information, the easier it will be to remember. This method draws on the senses as well as associating the information to familiar objects and places. When a student easily thinks about something that is familiar, he can associate it to the newly memorized information and is more likely to recall it. However, it is dependent on the student making clear connections and associations with the location and the new information to be learned.