Reading Strategies

Wellcome and Find Your Strategy "

Alpabhet System

Thursday, April 20, 2006 11:17 PM

The Alphabet system is a peg memory technique similar to, but more sophisticated than, the Number/Rhyme system. It is a good method for remembering longer lists of items in a specific order, in such a way that you can tell if items are missing It works by associating images representing letters of the alphabet with images you create for the things to be remembered.
When you are creating images for the letters of the alphabet, create images phonetically, so that the sound of the first syllable of the word is the name of the letter. For example, you might represent the letter 'k' with the word 'cake'

The Alphabet Technique links the items to be remembered with images of the letters A - Z. This allows you to remember a medium length list in the correct order. By pegging the items to be remembered to letters of the alphabet you know if you have forgotten items, and know the cues to use to trigger their recal. The Journey System is the next tool we look at. This is a powerful technique for quickly remembering long lists. To read this, click "Next article" below. Other relevant destinations are shown in the "Where to go from here" list underneath.

The Alphabet Technique Remembering Middle Length Lists

Wednesday, February 08, 2006 7:49 PM

The Alphabet system is a peg memory technique similar to, but more sophisticated than, the Number/Rhyme system. It is a good method for remembering longer lists of items in a specific order, in such a way that you can tell if items are missing.

It works by associating images representing letters of the alphabet with images you create for the things to be remembered.
When you are creating images for the letters of the alphabet, create images phonetically, so that the sound of the first syllable of the word is the name of the letter. For example, you might represent the letter 'k' with the word 'cake'

The Alphabet Technique links the items to be remembered with images of the letters A - Z. This allows you to remember a medium length list in the correct order. By pegging the items to be remembered to letters of the alphabet you know if you have forgotten items, and know the cues to use to trigger their recal. The Journey System is the next tool we look at. This is a powerful technique for quickly remembering long lists. To read this, click "Next article" below. Other relevant destinations are shown in the "Where to go from here" list underneath.

Memory Techniques - Introduction

These tools help you to improve your memory. They help you both to remember facts accurately and to remember the structure of information.

The tools are split into two sections:

Firstly we will discuss the individual tools that you can use to remember information.
Secondly we discuss how to use them in practice to remember peoples names, languages, exam information, etc.

As with other mind tools, the more practice you give yourself with these techniques, the more effective your use of them will be. This section contains many of the memory techniques used by stage memory performers. With enough practice and effort, you may be able to have a memory as good. Even if you do not have the time needed to develop this quality of memory, many of the techniques here are useful in everyday life.

You can do the following things to make your mnemonics more memorable:
• Use positive, pleasant images. Your brain often blocks out unpleasant ones
• Use vivid, colorful, sense-laden images - these are easier to remember than drab ones
• Use all your senses to code information or dress up an image. Remember that your mnemonic can contain sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movements and feelings as well as pictures.
• Give your image three dimensions, movement and space to make it more vivid. You can use movement either to maintain the flow of association, or to help you to remember actions.
• Exaggerate the size of important parts of the image
• Use humor! Funny or peculiar things are easier to remember than normal ones.
• Similarly rude rhymes are very difficult to forget!
• Symbols (red traffic lights, pointing fingers, road signs, etc.) can code quite complex messages quickly and effectively