New educational standards in Georgia and Arkansas - hope you’re paying attention, FCPS
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Anonymous
What do you think is gained by memorizing the 18th amendment? Does being able to rattle off the third amendment give you a deeper knowledge of con law? |
Anonymous
NP. Yes I do. The third amendment is pretty basic and has been litigated only once I believe so once you memorize the text and learn what it means to quarter soldiers you’ve got the basics of one piece of constitutional law! And I knew what the third amendment was but I just looked up the text and I had forgotten that the constitution forbids forced quartering even in times of war unless it’s “prescribed by law.” So somebody who had it memorized would know better than I did that the founding fathers were really, really against government imposition. |
Anonymous
Oh, but some school systems don't emphasize written expression either. Too difficult, along with memorization. |
Anonymous
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Last year my kid in FCPS memorized and recited poems in their 7th grade English class. So did my kids 3 and 5 years before that. It's not that unusual. It was fine. I think a touch of memorization is not a bad thing. I don't think any of the kids still remembers their poems though. A line here or there.
For the 13,14,15 amendments they did close analysis, looked at primary documents at the time about the amendments, and had to find a contemporary article that addressed one and compare them. In 7th grade in FCPS. I think that's far better. |
Anonymous
I'm not a lawyer, but I can memorize whatever amendment, but if I don't understand what I'm memorizing, it's pointless. Conversely, I can study the amendment without memorizing it and have a good grasp of what that amendment means. Memorizing text is not necessary to understand the principles of the text. The time and resource would be better spend for the student to analyze text than just memorizing it, which can be quite time consuming. |
Anonymous
| I rather my kids learn to interpret a passage/poem and then summarize it in their own words. I agree background knowledge is important. But that’s not the same as memorization. |
Anonymous
I’ve always remembered things better if I understand them and can explain them to someone else. You understand that people can retain information in different ways? And aren’t a lot of standardized tests about applied knowledge as well? |
Anonymous
While we're at it, can we please bring back cursive writing? I'm an AP teacher. It takes them forever to write any notes. We could cover twice as much material if I didn't have to wait so long for them to write things down. (Research shows that the brain processes information better when writing by hand than when typing, so while chromebooks in class have their uses, it's not a substitute for handwritten lecture notes.) |
Anonymous
Here are some reasons why memorization is important: Proven benefits of memorization Despite the existing backlash against memorization, rote learning has proven benefits. Here’s why it still plays a critical role in education: 1. Memorization Fosters Critical Thinking Just like working out in the gym, challenging and consistent exercises are vital to the brain staying fit. Thus, a challenge like memorization is a great way to exercise your brain for better mental fitness. 2. Memorization Teaches Your Brain to Remember It’s crucial to train your brain to remember. Memorizing gives your brain the strength to recall information. Therefore, memorizing any information over time rather than cramming makes your brain more receptive to remembering. 3. Improves Neural Plasticity Through extended exercises in memorization, learners can retain more information. Accordingly, with repeated activation of the memory structures, you promote neuronal plasticity in the brain. According to MedicineNet, neuroplasticity allows neurons to respond to environmental changes by adjusting their activity. 4. Nursery School Rhymes Demonstrate Rhythmic Patterns The repetition of nursery school rhymes teaches children memorization, a critical tool for children. 5. Memorization Benefits Through Mental Gymnastics Neurobiologists believe that people who obsess over sports statistics make their brains agile and fast. 6. Knowing Frees Up Your Brain Capacity Students who’ve memorized definitions, functions, equations, and other information can free up more brain capacity to use in other areas. If one has grasped all foundational concepts, one can move on to bigger concepts. 7. Memorization Improves Critical Thinking Memorization lays an excellent foundation for cognitive development in the early stages. For instance, our early learning occurs through nursery school rhymes. Although these children don’t understand the structure, they learn through rhyme schemes. 8. Memory Training Starves Off Cognitive Decline Adults who go through short periods of memory training are better off maintaining everyday skills and higher cognitive functions. Moreover, memorization allows adults to delay cognitive decline by 14 years. 9. Memorization Creates a Working Memory Necessary for Creativity Working memory is necessary for creativity. Students who have mastered how to focus and develop their working memory through memorizing are more creative. 10. Memory Skills Help You Focus When students memorize, they learn to focus. That said, students who practice memorizing at an early stage learn how to focus better on learning activities at high school and college levels. |
Anonymous
They should be typing notes, that's what they'll do in undergraduate and graduate school. |
Anonymous
I type very well. My cursive is terrible and I hate to write thank you notes because of my penmanship. However, when I really want to remember something, I make handwritten notes to myself. It helps me remember much better than typing. Maybe, it is a throw back to taking notes in school. |
Anonymous
When I really want to remember something, I pull up the notes that I typed. Typing notes is a skill, and kids a probably better off learning to be efficient in high school than in a 400 student 101 class in a giant lecture hall |
Anonymous
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Does OP know that songs are poems?
I don't know anyone who's hasn't memorized at least one poem. |
Anonymous
The research seems pretty solid that handwritten notes help a lot more than typed notes, as far as grades go. And this includes random assignment. As an ADHDer, the only way I can survive my job is by relying very heavily on handwritten note-taking. It forces me to pay attention, and avoids the inherent distractions of the laptop. |
Anonymous
Yes you can learn something well without memorizing it, but memorizing something—making sure it’s locked in your long-term memory—-helps you remember what you’ve learned. Have you ever memorized a poem? I highly recommend it. It’s rewarding. |