Free Resources for Improving Memory

What is memory?

Memory refers to a person’s ability to hold information for both a short period of time and to recall the information after a delay (an extended period of time).

Memory is important for many aspects of language such as:

• Language Comprehension

• Verbal Reasoning

• Receptive Language Skills

• Learning new vocabulary

Strategies to improve long term memory

-Involve as many of the senses as possible (multi-sensory approach).

-Chunk information e.g. 123 456 789 instead of 123456789.

-Provide meaningful associations to new information.

-Link Information to previous knowledge.

-Repeat new information several times in different manners.

Activities for improving Memory Skills

• Matching Memory Games

  • Memory Games are fun for kids of all ages! Set up a memory game and see who can get the most matches.

    Here are some links for FREE memory games:

    • Adjective Memory Game (Grades 2-4)

      • https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Adjective-Memory-Game-FREEBIE-2412462?st=c2f8ea24b00219cc8c51209def4a79e6

    • Category Memory Game (Grades 1-5)

      • https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Categories-Memory-Card-Game-Today-I-Went--1052583?st=c2f8ea24b00219cc8c51209def4a79e6

    • Synonym Memory Game (Grades 2-5)

      • https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Synonym-Matching-Cards-MemoryConcentration-Game-400792?st=faa294456bba7034a55144746482c038

    • Letter Identification Memory (Grades K-1)

      • https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Letter-Identification-and-Beginning-Sounds-Memory-Games-743350?st=c2f8ea24b00219cc8c51209def4a79e6

    • Feelings & Emotions Memory Game

      • https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Feelings-and-Emotions-Memory-Game-FREEBIE-3812605?st=c2f8ea24b00219cc8c51209def4a79e6

• Simon Says

  • Simon Says is a motivating game to practice memory skills. Heres how to play!

    One person is the leader and calls out the actions. Everyone else must follow the leader and do the action, but only when Simon says. For example, Simon says, touch your toes. Everyone must touch their toes.

    Then the leader has to try and get everyone to do an action without saying Simon says. If someone does the action and the leader did not say Simon says, that person is out of the game. For example, if the leader says just “touch your toes” and someone touches their toes, they are out of the game.
    

• “I’m going on a picnic”

  • This is another fun and motivating game to practice memory skills. Heres how to play:

    Pretend you are going on a picnic. Each person has to bring something to eat. For example, the first person might say, “I’m going on a picnic and I am going to bring a sandwich.” The next person will have to recall the previous items and add something new to the list (i.e. I’m going on a picnic and I am going to bring a sandwich and apples). Keep repeating the sequence until an error is made. You may also try this in alphabetical order. By playing this way the first person will have to bring an item beginning with the letter A, the next person the letter B and so on.

  • If your students enjoy this game try playing with different locations, for example the beach or the store.

For more information on Memory and Attention visit: https://sltforkids.co.uk/speech-clinic/speech-language-and-communication-problems-we-help/receptive-language-difficulties/attention-and-memory/

Reference for the information above: Attention and memory. Attention and memory | Receptive language difficulties | Speech language and communication problems we help | Speech clinic | SLT for Kids | Speech & Language Therapy, across Manchester & the North West. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2021, from https://sltforkids.co.uk/speech-clinic/speech-language-and-communication-problems-we-help/receptive-language-difficulties/attention-and-memory/.