Vocabulary Memorization Method

Here is a method that I came up with for my daughter, who was having a hard time memorizing new vocabulary words.  On the vocabulary test she took before using this method she got a grade of 11% on the test.  After using this method to learn 20 words in 2 days, she got a score of 102% on the next test (there was some extra credit).

Here's the method that I came up with to help with the memorization. I'm sure it is similar to others out there, but I've never seen something like this laid out in a step-by-step method.

• Create a note card for each word.  We used 3"x5" standard index cards.
• On the front of the note card, write the vocabulary word in standard spelling and, optionally, its phonetic spelling.
• On the back, write the part of speech, followed by the word definition.
• Also on the back, write a sample sentence using the word in a way that shows you know its meaning.  For instance, for the word "glutton", you could write "Jim felt like a glutton after eating that meal because he thought he ate way too much."
• Come up with a funny cartoon picture to go along with the word and draw it on the front of the card.  The picture should have something to do with the definition and should also have something to do with a common word that rhymes with it.  For example, using the word "glutton" again, you could draw a big fat cartoon button stuffing its face with food.  The button will remind you of the original word that rhymes and the button stuffing its cartoon face will be a silly way to remind you of the definition.  The sillier the picture, the more memorable it will be.
• Create a deck of these cards for all the words you need to memorize and go through them one by one.  Look at the front  of the card and try to repeat the definition out loud without turning over the card.  Then, try to come up with an example sentence using the word.  Turn over the card and check your definition.
• Once you feel confident about the words, have someone else quiz you on them without letting you see the picture.

Here's why I think it works: Spending all the effort to come up with these pictures (it's not that easy for some words) forces you to really think hard about the words in the short term.  The pictures help you to remember them over the long term.  For some reason, funny, incongruous pictures stick in your head.  I can still picture some of the ones I used to memorize things when I was a kid almost 30 years ago.

It may not work fore everyone, but it is worth a try.