A child soon comes to the necessity of remembering numbers. With some
this is not difficult for they possess unusual powers of visualization
and can see the numbers clearly in their mind's eye and thus recall
them with ease. There are many examples of men and women who have
this visual memory for figures. On the other hand only a very small
proportion can do this.
It is a common failing among children, as well as adults, to be unable
to remember numbers easily. The reason is simple. Numbers have no
meaning, they convey no impression to the mind which can be retained.
Words convey the picture of objects, thoughts and actions which you can
visualize. Numbers are cold, inanimate things which have no life nor
interest, they do not present a picture and are not easily retained.
=Things that have no meaning are difficult to remember.=
The simple transference of the meaningless number into something of
interest and within the child's knowledge and experience will be
helpful. He will remember 15 apples easier than just the number 15.
Numbers are easily dealt with when they become objects. You teach the
child to add and subtract by the counting board, or by using a group of
objects. Fractions are most easily explained by cutting an apple, or
something which we can see.
A man had received a new auto license number and wondered how he could
remember it, 218515. He knew the easiest way was to make it mean
something. He thought that 21 was the age when a young man reaches his
majority. If he lives to be 85 he will be an old man, and he might be
entirely destitute but for the 15c. So he had the figures 21-85-15.
After that he had no difficulty in recalling this number at any time.
Be original and make the figures mean something.