Remember this? A shocking story about our brains.

   What do you do when you want to learn something? Do you research it in a dictionary? Do you skim for it in a book? Do you look it up online?
   Studies by William Glasser show that people only remember 10% of what you read. That's it! A large majority of this project is reading, whether it's in a history textbook or an excerpt of a story. It's not your fault if you aren't remembering everything!
   However, it's a possibility that reading is the right way for you. Here are some ways to remember your reading:

• margin notes: write the key facts and main ideas of the text you're learning on the side.
• highlighting: (also a visual strategy.) Try not to use a lot of highlighters, because you're brain will be drawn to the colors instead of the text. *
• Don't read all at once: smaller passages are easier to remember.
• Try to find connections to what you're reading. Make mental connections between the book and another part in the book, the book and another book, the book and yourself, and the book to what's happening in the world today.

Here are some other techniques for remembering reading.

Remembering is one of the toughest things about learning.

   You may think that reading up on a topic is the best way to learn about it. It very well may be, but it's not the best way to remember what you've learned.
   Every person has a learning strategy that works best for them.

   Here, I'm going to share some learning and remembering strategies that have worked for me. Here's a quiz that determines your learning style based on habits.
   Which way do you learn how to do something? Those who are visual, then learn faster if they see it done. If someone could tell you how to do something, then you're auditory. If you are kinesthetic, you can learn by doing something. Here are helpful resources for each type of learner. When I took a quiz on how I learn, I actually got even amount of points in each of the three categories. You most likely don't use just one strategy all the time.

Sound: A Step Up

You remember more of what you hear than what you read.

   Though it's still a low percentage, you remember more of what you hear. Though none of these percentages apply to everyone, the average person remembers 20% of what they listen to. If you don't think that's true for you, maybe you're auditory!
   Here are strategies I've used to learn by listening:

• educational songs: Put what you want to learn into song. In 5th grade, my class listened to a song for learning the states and capitals. When you were in preschool or kindergarten, you probably listened to the ABC song. It's a very helpful method.
• audio books: If reading just isn't your thing, then maybe it would be better to hear the information spoken to you. There are lots of free and low-priced audio books about many topics.
• conversation: In class, a group conversation or a debate can help the facts stick in your head. At home, you can either talk about the subject or have a friend or family member quiz you orally. In fact, it is believed that you'll remember 70% of what you discuss!

Sight: Visualize Your Learning

Another strategy to learn is to see things.

The quote from Glasser says that people remember about 30% of what they see. Luckily, there are tons of great ways to learn visually! Here are my top picks:

• movies: Watch a movie or video about the subject you're learning about! There are plenty on YouTube, guaranteed.
• slideshows: These are easy to put along with a lecture. A popularly used program for making slideshows is PowerPoint. Also, Google docs has a presentation mode, if you have a Google account.
• flashcards: a rapid way for learning. For something like an language test, write a word on one side of a card, and the definition on the other. There's a really helpful site called Quizlet, where you can use flashcards, take tests, and learn.
• graphs: more for facts having to do with numbers. Bar graphs and circle charts (pie graphs) are good for visual learners.
• maps: If you're taking a course in history or geology, then you should look at a map of an area you're studying: you'll remember it better than reading about it.

Teach and Learn: The Best Strategy

Helping another helps you learn.

   Believe it or not, Glasser believes that you remember a shocking 95% of what you teach to others. So next time you're prepping for an exam, try helping someone else. While teaching another person, you're forced to think about and recall what you're telling them. A real live person will ask follow-up questions, which could lead to a conversation, or even a debate if you don't agree.

A brief video about how to improve your memory.

Note: I didn't mention all the percentages of what you remember determined by William Glasser. For more information about him: click here for a slideshow and biography. However, if you still remember this post, you know that you'll probably learn more from the slideshow.