Mnemonic devices

I am all for coming up with all kinds of goofy anythings to help my kids (and myself!) remember stuff. 

When Audrey had to learn the state capitals, we made flashcards and crazy sayings for as many of the states as we could.

For example: St. Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul was a missionary and so he couldn't afford a big soda and had to buy a mini soda. 

Get it?

Some were much shorter.

For example: Dover, Delaware

Double D!

That was enough to help us remember that one.

We do it with spelling too.

We go TOGETHER TO GET HER.

CLOSE the T in the CLOSET.

We do it with Bible verses.

Philippians 4:8-9 tells us to think on whatever is TNR PLA EP. True, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.

And now I'm doing it with Greek.

This word means "I say; I speak" and is pronounced "lego."

How to I remember it? I say: Lego my ego!

And this one means "crowd, multitude" and is pronounced "ochlos."

So I remember this even though the pronunciation is not quite right: A crowd of ox was eating lox.

And my favorite for this week?

This word means "house, home" and is pronounced "oykia."

What else could it be but this: Oy! Go to IKEA to decorate your house!

Silly, but it works.

I write them on all of my flashcards.

(And, yes, there are supposed to be accent marks on those words, but I've not figured out how to get them on their with this font yet.)

Comments

[Erin]

Joanne, I took Greek for 2 years in college and my prof showed us a shirt you could buy online that said in greek: "lego mai ego" (spell it in greek). Something that is only funny to people who study Greek ;)

[Shelley]

My six yr old learned Dover, Delaware by "What did Della Wear? her Doveralls!!"

I love mnemonic devices too...such fun!!!

sounds like you all are having lots of fun~

~Blessings

[Tara]

We love them...kings play chess on fine glass sets is one of my favorites. Just used it to teach my girls animal classification.

[RBL - States and Capitals Flashcards]

For a fun way to use mnemonics to memorize the 50 States and Capitals, check out: http://rightbrainedlearner.com