Progress Report #2Mega Memory Month January 2010 is in full swing.How are you doing?Care to share your memorization methods or unload your ups and downs with those of us who are sharing the struggle?We’re in this together, so please let us know!Leave a note in the comments and/or link your own Progress Report post here via Mr. Linky.Click on the icon and a separate screen pops up. In one box, you type in your name and/or website; in the other box, paste in the url to your post. It’ll be saved and accessible by returning to this page and clicking on the icon again.I’ll return later in the day and embed the pop-up links into the text itself here for easy access.
MMM Participant Reports:
| 1. Ruth2. Amy | 3. Hopeannfaith ~ Andrea |
In addition, you can post on the wall of the Mega Memory Month Facebook event page.If you’re just finding out about Mega Memory Month, jump in—there’s still time to dig in to something big!Click HERE for the MMM Headquarters.Ann’s ProgressI owe my progress in Colossians this week in part to technology.My plan has been to add a verse each day. One night when I was nestled in my bed, warm and cozy, I was ready to learn the new verse but didn’t have my Bible on hand.I did, however, have my laptop nearby. So I logged onto Bible Gateway. After all, the words are exactly the same whether they’re printed on the physical page of my NIV study Bible or on the virtual page of Bible Gateway (many more translations are available at the site).All this week, I’ve been repeating the verses, adding a few hand motions to emphasize key words. And just two days ago, to reinforce what I’ve been working on, I added the first-letter prompt method explained in THIS website article.After pasting my text into the converter, I printed out the automatically generated prompts:
As you can see, I fold this paper up and carry it with me. When I need to review, these letters prompt me when I’m stuck and nobody’s around to help.One time I was at a coffee shop. I remembered to stick my prompt sheet in my bag, but I didn’t have my Bible with me to remind me of the actual words.So I used my new phone—we added the data plan for one month as an experiment, so my new free phone is, at least temporarily, more than a phone! What do you think of that, Lisa? Yes, thanks to mobile Internet access, I logged onto Bible Gateway again and brought up my passage, which showed up in teeny-tiny font and presented as a long, slender column.
It worked just fine, clarifying a section I couldn’t recall.I’m still a little shaky on the most recent two verses, but I’m making progress. I don’t know if I’ll make it all the way through the chapter, but I’m not worrying about that right now. For now, it’s just verse by verse.And I don’t suppose it matters too much whether we review our verses/poems/speeches as handwritten words on card stock taped to our car dashboards, or as pages on a website.Either way, they’re going into our minds.And, hopefully, our hearts.Also, if you need ideas or inspiration, here are some resources right at your fingertips—you, too, can use technology to aid your memorization efforts! • Click HERE to read “An Approach to Extended Memorization” by Dr. Andrew Davis, an article highly recommended by Amy at Lavender Sparkles.• Click HERE for my mega collection of memorization tips and techniques.• Click HERE for more inspiration and practical suggestions for memorizing Scripture from Ann Voskamp of Holy Experience.
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Merry Monday, Ann! My link is up… I’ll pop by later to catch up on everyone else’s posts. Rushing off to check on a ‘too-quiet’ little man… I know, I know… I’ll try to walk slowly. 😉
I’m memorizing Psalm 32 Ann. I wrote it all out on a little spiral index card book. I carry it with me when I go for my walk. It is amazing how much I can get done in the forty minutes.
Two verses down – nine to go! I really love doing this.
Ruth: I read your post, Ruth, and I do hope your toe survives! Sounds like your memory work benefited from the slowing down that ensued. May you continue to progress well. Your story made me wince from pain and grin from your good humor about it all!
Linda: Your index card book is a great, sturdy, portable idea to take on your walk. I like to double up whenever possible, too, and practice while on the stair-step machine in the basement. Just today I went low-tech and wrote out the verses on small cards (old, obsolete business cards) to refer to. It helped while I was reviewing to have them on hand. I hope you get through all nine efficiently! I bit off such a huge hunk of words with Colossians 1 (Paul sure has some long sentences), I don’t know if I’ll make it….
Ann – I’m glad to hear you are trying the first letter method. How is that working for you?
Mark-Productivity501: So glad to see your comment, Mark! Yes, it works great as a prompt as I review the verses. Your idea has taken off among lots of people trying to memorize portions of the Bible, and the words on the streets (virtual, bloggy streets) is that it is very, very helpful to help wean from peeking at the text to the point where the passage is fully memorized.
You continue to inspire me. This encourages me as I continue to work through Scripture memorization. It all feels so new … and invigorating. Thank you, Ann.