Memorization

Memorization is a big part of classical education. After all, the grammar stage is focused almost exclusively on memorizing, and it lays an amazing foundation for the later stages of life. When I was in grammar school, almost all of my schoolwork consisted of memorizing in some form or another.  

What I Memorized 

Between Classical Conversations, First Language Lessons, and AWANA, I had plenty to memorize while I was in first- sixth grade. In CC, I memorized three cycles (24 weeks per cycle) of Timeline, History, Geography, Latin, English, Science, and Math facts. The timeline included 161 events in chronological order, which were repeated each year. For history, we memorized a new sentence each week about a different historical event. In geography, we learned the names and locations of major geographical features, such as capitals, rivers, and mountains. Math was the same each year and included multiplication facts to the 15s, area formulas, and conversion factors. For Latin, we learned declensions, conjugations, and John 1:1-7. Science included memorizing major scientific facts, rules, and theories. CC English and FLL work both included memorizing definitions of parts of speech, parts of sentences, a list of pronouns, conjunctions, etc.  

CC also had a longer scripture passage each year that we memorized as well. These were John 1:1-7 (in Latin and English), Exodus 20:1-24, and Ephesians 6 (which has now been replaced with Genesis 1:1-27 in CC).  

I also participated in AWANA, which included memorizing a couple of Bible verses each week, as well as answers to some basic theological questions.  

How I Memorized 

Songs are a great way to aid in memorization. Almost everything in CC is set to song. By putting a tune with words, it is so much easier to remember what you have learned. Even for people who have a hard time with singing (like me) songs can be really helpful. 

Another technique that I used a lot was repetition. I would read the material multiple times in a row. Then, I would slowly begin covering up some words and trying to say them from memory. I kept going like this until I could recite the whole verse, fact, or whatever else I was memorizing. 

I used the repetition technique more often than the song, mostly because I didn’t enjoy singing. However, I found both very effective. Sometimes, I would even start by using a song and once I had memorized it that way, I would move on to being able to say it. I basically taught myself to speak the song by singing portions of the song over and over until I could say it without the tune.  

Memorization is the foundation of classical education. Grammar school students learn how to memorize so that it is so much easier later in their lives to build on important information and learn new facts. It also trains the brain to hold larger and larger amounts of information over time, which is a useful skill in many areas of life.