Mnemonics

Retaining and recalling new information can be very challenging for students. Research has shown that mnemonic strategies are highly effective for helping students retrieve important information. A mnemonic is an instructional strategy created to improve retention and recall of information through the use of visual or auditory clues. These clues improve students’ ability to make connections between their existing knowledge and new information.

Here are some types of mnemonics:

• Keyword – a known word or idea that sounds similar to the new word being taught (an illustration can be created to link the new learning to the known information)
• Pegword – words are rhyming words substituted for the number that needs to be remembered and then linked to the other information (insects on sticks to remember that they have six legs)
• Letter – acronyms or acrostic used to help remember a list of names or steps (STAR for substitute, take out, add, rearrange)