AUDITORY MEMORY SKILLS AT HOME

Quick tip: Auditory Treasure Hunt

Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt? Ask your kids to gather some pirate loot by naming 3 items you already have around the house. Found them all? If 3 items were too easy, now ask for 4. Repeat until their treasure chest (whatever you decide that to be) is full.

AUDITORY MEMORY SKILLS IN THE CLASSROOM

(You can use this at home, too.)

Quick tip: (Listen) Before You Go

Earlier I described Before You Go as a visual memory task. Let’s switch it up a bit and transform this into an auditory memory exercise.

Immediately prior to recess or a short activity, give your students 3 verbal instructions that you would like them to follow when they return to their desks. Encourage students to visualize in their minds what the completed instructions will look like. For example:

1) Take out a blue crayon.

2) Place the crayon in the upper right corner of your desk.

3) Sit crisscross applesauce in your chair until instruction begins again.

Of course, tailor the instructions to the level of your students’ recall ability. Once students can handle 3 instructions at a time, increase the challenge. Feel free to get silly with it!

Alternative: Instead of asking students to remember instructions, tell them which letters, numbers, or words you would like them to write down when they return to their desks.

And NOW you’ve made it to the end of the Cognitive Quick Tips Series.

If you missed any of the earlier tips, here they are again:

Auditory Memory at Home and in the Classroom

Visual Memory at Home and in the Classroom

Visual Memory at Home and in the Classroom Part 2

Visualization at Home and in the Classroom