Dear Martin by Nic Stone is one of our school’s considerations for the grade nine de-streamed classroom. These are my thoughts on Dear Martin as a Book Club contender. To learn more about our Inclusive Classroom Library Project, please click here. A Brief Plot OutlineJustyce McAllister, a black, seventeen-year-old boy, writes letters to Martin Luther…
It’s time that all classrooms build an inclusive library! As of September 2022, grade nine education in Ontario will be de-streamed. Ontario is the only province in Canada to divide students into different pathways in grade nine. The unfortunate consequence of this practice is that it puts black, indigenous, low-income, and students with special needs…
Enjoy this Google Shakespeare Translation of Sonnet 18. It is delightful nonsense that will keep you guessing and laughing at what could be next. If you enjoy it, be sure to check out Richard Pickman’s new “Google Ruined My…” books. Romeo and Juliet – Act 2, Scene 2 O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?…
How to practice a PAO memory system: a simple drill If you have built a Person–Action–Object (PAO) chart for two-digit numbers, practice the code in both directions before trying to memorize long sequences. A six-digit group uses the person from pair one, the action from pair two and the object from pair three. The goal…
How to place a PAO system in a memory palace A PAO memory palace combines six digits into one vivid Person–Action–Object scene, then places that scene at a distinct location on a familiar mental route. For a six-digit example such as 71–39–04, use the person associated with 71, the action assigned to 39, and the…
Major System mnemonic: the quick answer The Major System is a number-memory technique that turns digits into consonant sounds, then into memorable words and images. For example, 32 → m-n → moon because 3 represents an m sound and 2 represents n. To remember a longer sequence, convert number pairs into pictures and link the…
Are you ready to take your memory to the next level? Meet the PAO memory system, a powerful technique that has been used by memory athletes worldwide to achieve extraordinary feats of recall. PAO stands for Person-Action-Object and it’s a powerful method that utilizes the natural human ability to remember people, actions and objects, to…
How I started learning memory techniques This is a personal account of how a talk about competitive memory inspired me to try mnemonic techniques in everyday teaching and learning. If you are beginning the same journey, you do not need special natural ability: begin with a short list, build memorable associations, test yourself without looking,…
Early MKUltra The CIA started Project ARTICHOKE on August 20, 1951. They wanted to see if participants would unwillingly attempt to assassinate others. Also, the CIA ran several experiments to determine the usefulness of hypnosis, forced addiction, withdrawal, and LSD during interrogation. Eventually, ARTICHOKE turned into MKUltra in 1953. The name MKUltra came from MK,…
What is the link method memory technique? The link method, also called the chain method or memory chaining, helps you remember a list in order by making a vivid mental connection between each pair of neighboring items. For milk → keys → umbrella, imagine milk pouring out of a giant key, then the key opening…