Doing Something Nice: Memory Skills for 6th Graders
February 24, 2009
A nice gesture to a group of sixth graders helps them improve their test scores and provides some unexpected rewards.
Sometimes we do nice things out of a sense of compassion or obligation. But doing something nice often brings unexpected rewards.
As a part of our program, “Getting to the Heart of Customer Satisfaction™”, I often include a module on memory techniques. The participants in this program learn skills on how to retain new information and how to remember names and faces.
My 11-year-old son was having a tough time learning the names of all the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses for an upcoming social studies test. I decided to teach him how to use the memory skills to learn this information.
The test was difficult, but with only 20 minutes of studying, he scored a 97 when the average grade for the class was around 70. When his teacher found out how he was able to remember the names so well, she invited me into the school to teach the entire sixth grade section.
The classes were fun. The students used the memory skills to study for a major test on rocks. Everyone learned skills that would help them score higher on this test and that would benefit them throughout their education. I left the school that morning feeling like I had made a valuable contribution.
Three days later, my son brought home a huge thank you card from the students. Each person had written a bookmark-sized note telling me how they were using the skills.
“I really learned a lot—this will cut my study time in half!” said one note. “This was what I needed to organize the way I study!” said another. “I got a good grade on my science test!” said a third.
As excited as I felt when I left the school, it was nothing like the feeling I had as I read these thank you notes from 100 students. Why not see if you can find the time to do something nice for someone today. It will certainly make a difference in their life—and in yours too.
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