Chunks are a great way to hard wire new things that a homeschooler needs to learn into the brain. By learning small chunks of materials and putting them together you can end up learning a whole complex topic without really getting too stressed out.
The Basic Steps to Making a Mental Chunk
First step is to focus your undivided attention on the information that you want to chunk. This simply means stay present when you are learning something for the first time. Avoid distractions such as the television or checking your smartphone for incoming alerts and notifications. This allows your brain to make the new neural patterns required for you to remember the material that you are trying to chunk. Basically focus the attention of your working memory solely on what you want to remember.
Second step is to understand the basic idea that you are trying to chunk. While you can memorize by rote things that you do not understand, you have a far greater chance of remembering something that you can actually understand. Figure out the main idea so that you know what’s going on in the topic that you are trying to chunk. Now review it in your head to see if you truly understand what you are learning. Are your concepts clear?
Third step is gaining context that allows you to know how to use the chunk and also when you need to use it. This comes with repetition and practice. When you try using the chunk in situations where it fits, and those where it does not fit, you are able to see it more broadly. This practice helps you broaden the networks of neurons that are connected to your chunk, ensuring it’s not only firm, but also accessible from many different paths. The final bit of using chunks is being able to see the big picture. A chunk is much like a tool that is available to you. However it is only when you are making repairs and understand what you need to do, can you actually pull out the right tool and complete the repairs.
