“No memory is ever alone; it’s at the end of a trail of memories, a dozen trails that each have their own associations.” Louis L’Amour
In my previous Tip, I mentioned my plan to create peg systems for two content areas: seven motivational techniques and six key steps in lesson plan design. Today, when I sat down to think about the associations and actions that would be relevant, I was amazed to discover that coming up with a peg system was quick, easy and a lot of fun!
The key for me was identifying the properties of the strategy or step. Once I had the property clear in my head, an action that would represent that property came quickly to mind.
Here is what I came up with in fifteen minutes:
A. A Peg System for Seven Motivational Strategies
| Number | Action | Motivational Strategy |
| 1 | Hold both arms out and then bring your hands to cross over your chest, taking it all in | Extrinsic to Intrinsic Motivation |
| 2 | Raise your fist in the air and jump up, saying “ta dah!” | Success |
| 3 | Take one hand and pat your opposite shoulder | Knowledge of Results |
| 4 | Pretend to hold the lapels of a jacket and proudly swagger, swinging your body from side to side | Confidence |
| 5 | Pretend to juggle an orange, a bowling ball and a feather, dropping them | Interest |
| 6 | Pass a hand in front of your face- when the hand goes up, put a frown on your face. [for raising concern] When the hand goes down, put a smile on your face. [for lowering concern] | Concern |
| 7 | Put both hands over your heart and sing “Feelings…” | Feeling |
B. A Peg System for the Six LESSON Design Steps
| Number | Action | Design Step |
| 1 | Cup one hand and pretend to pour something into that hand to fill it up | Needs |
| 2 | Point ahead with both pointer fingers and move forward two steps [for the two goals] | Goals |
| 3 | Pretend to take aim with a bow and arrow | Objectives: |
| a. Pretend to insert a key into a lock on a door and then push the door open and enter the room | Key Content | |
| b. Flatten both hands and repeat putting one hand over the other hand, to create a ladder effect | Learning Level | |
| c. Pretend to race a car, steering and moving ahead, saying “Whoosh!” | Action Verb | |
| 4 | Count each finger by pointing to it and touching it, saying the number out loud | Agenda |
| 5 | Use fingers to make binoculars and look through them, then cup a hand behind one of your ears, and finally turn around while jumping up and down [to represent three key learning styles] | Activities |
| 6 | Put one arm behind your back, pretend to hold a large microscope and search the ground for clues (like Sherlock Holmes) | Evaluation |
What do you think?
May your learning be sweet.
Deborah
