1. Explain the significance of the verse.
2. Be sure the class understands the meaning of difficult words.
Otherwise, it's going to be like trying to build a model airplane without glue. Nothing will really stick for they are trying to remember things they don't even understand. And they may develop wrong concepts.
3. Have the children look up the verse in their Bibles.
4. Help children make visual associations, when the verse lends itself to that.
What mental image comes to your mind when you hear the word "Nike"? It's that celebrated swoosh emblem -- and when you see it your mind conjures up a vast line of athletic products. It's because the company has visually associated that emblem. Visual associations will help God's Word STICK in the hearts of boys and girls.
Helpful resource: Heart Hider Bookmarks (www.hearthiders.com or call 800-294-2397).
5. Weave the verse into every aspect of the lesson.
6. Be prepared as a teacher.
Know the scriptures you are teaching by memory. Be sure the scripture is posted in the room for everyone to see.
7. Recognize accomplishments through verbal praise or awards.
Psychologists remind us that memorization is achieved with maximum efficiency only when there is some external reward given to the learner: praise, approval, certificate, trophy, prize.
Children are different. No one else can turn on your internal motivation button except you. We can't reach inside children and turn ON their motivation buttons.
It's out job to find whatever to get kids motivated to learn God's Word. There are some who we can just challenge them with the importance of hiding God's Word in their hearts. Others, this will not phase. Their internal motivation will be accelerated only through tangible rewards.
8. To lock in the reference, say it before and after the verse.
9. For all age groups, the key to memorization is repetition.
Make it fun! Be creative! Verses studied once are easily forgotten. Review helps children retain what they have learned and helps make the verse a part of the child's life
10. Be selective. It's better to learn a few verses and remember them, than try to memorize a lot and not learn them well.
11. Do not undermine self-esteem or contribute to a sense of failure in slow learners.
12. Send the verse home in printed form. If possible, something the child has made.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21: So keep these commandments carefully in mind. Tie them to your hand to remind you to obey them, and tie them to your forehead between your eyes! Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting at home, when you are out walking, at bedtime, and before breakfast! Write them upon the doors of your houses and upon your gates so that as long as there is sky above the earth, you and your children will enjoy the good life awaiting you
in the land the Lord has promised you.
13. Be creative!
All that happens week after week in Bible memorization is sequencing -- putting words in the right order. Have fun - use your imagination. The key to teaching memory verses to boys and girls is found in the one word VARIETY. The effective teacher will use many ways to teach pupils the Word of God.
