The Ultimate Guide to Memory Work

Memory work is a big part of our school day. I have written before on why I think it is so important. I think it is fabulous that it is alive and well in homeschool circles.

The sharing of resources, methods, and organizational tips in the community make it easier for everyone to be successful.

My number one tip for memory work is to keep it fun. Though what we memorize is often serious business, there is no reason why the practice has to be tedious. We love our memory work time.

So if you need some convincing on the importance of the process, how to organize, or where to find even more information, check out the links below.

Why Memorize

• YMB #2 Furnishing the Mind: A Conversation with Andrew Pudewa – I enjoyed this conversation with Andrew where we cover the basics of why and how to memorize.
• Memorization and the Soul: Why, What, and How by Brandy Vencel – Wonderful audio workshop on memorization.
• The Critical Subject Your Homeschool Curriculum is Missing – Inspiring article about why memory work is critical. Also includes tips on how to memorize.
• The Classical Preschool — Memorize – Why memorization is important and how it looks in the preschool years.

What to Memorize

• Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization – My absolute favorite resource of poems to memorize in Morning Time (or anytime).
• 100 Things for Kids to Memorize – A list to get you started
• YMB #21 Why Shakespeare?: A Conversation with Ken Ludwig In this episode Ken and I discuss why memorizing Shakespeare can be beneficial (and fun!)
• Memory Work Index – A list of suggested things to memorize including scripture, hymns, and folk songs.
• Memory Work Made Easy – Free download with hymn, poem, and scripture for each month of the year.
• Poetry Memorization Cards for Kids – Free downloadable cards of poems to memorize.

How to Memorize

• Help Your Kids Memorize Anything – My own series on how to memorize.
• Recite, Recite, Recite – Ideas for how to spice up recitation.
• Sing Me a Song – Tips for creating your own songs.
• Creative Ways to Memorize – Long list of fun ways to memorize and review!
• YMB #24 A New/Old Look at Memorization: An Interview with Dr. Kevin Vost – In this podcast, Dr. Vost and I chat about the ancient memory palace technique for memorizing. Fascinating!
• On Not Being Word-Perfect: Taking the Long View on Memorization – Why it isn’t important to memorize word for word.
• The Ultimate Guide to Learning Through Song – Another Ultimate Guide for learning through song.
• How I Teach Memory Work to My Preschooler – Practical post outlining a preschool memorization program — would work for any age!

How to organize memory work?

• Scripture Memory System — The original file box from Simply Charlotte Mason. Works for other things as well!
• The Morning Time Binder – My post about our binder based on the file box system above.
• 31 Days of Organizing Homeschool Stuff: Circle Time Binders – Mystie’s take on binders.
• Building a Memory Work Binder – How Brandy uses a binder for her memorization work.
• Use iTunes to Build a Memory Work Playlist – A post from me on how to build multiple playlists to organize memory work.

Memory Work Products

• Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization – My absolute favorite resource of poems to memorize in Morning Time (or anytime).
• Classically Catholic Memory
• Classical Conversations
  • Why Foundations Memory Work is Enough – A post from Homegrown Learners about their experience with Classical Conversations.

Memory Work Books

• Living Memory
• The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education
• How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare
• Memorize the Faith! (and Most Anything Else): Using the Methods of the Great Catholic Medieval Memory Masters

Check out more Ultimate Guides at iHomeschool Network’s ultimate list of Ultimate Guides.

More information on memory work for homeschool

Be sure to grab my Morning Time Snapshot below for a peek into how we do our memory work and our day.

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Pam Barnhill

Pam is the author of The Your Morning Basket Guide and Plan Your Year: Homeschool Planning for Purpose and Peace. She also is the host of three popular  podcasts -- The Homeschool Snapshots Podcast, Your Morning Basket, and The Homeschool Solutions Show. She lives in the Deep South with her husband and three kids, where she is the go-to lady for great curriculum recommendations or a just a pep talk on a rough day.

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