Saylor URL: http://www.saylor.org/books Saylor.org
After you read the list to your friend, give her enough time to write down all the words that she
can recall. Make sure that she cannot recall any more and then, for the words that were not listed,
prompt your friend with some of the category names: “Do you remember any words that were
furniture? Do you remember any words that were tools?” I think you will find that the category
names, which serve as retrieval cues, will help your friend remember information that she could
not retrieve otherwise.
Retrieval Demonstration
Try this test of the ability to retrieve information with a classmate. The instructions are in the text.
Apple (Fruit)
Dresser (Furniture)
Sander (Tool)
Pomegranate (Fruit)
Sunflower (Flower)
Tangerine (Fruit)
Chair (Furniture)
Peony (Flower)
Banana (Fruit)
Sofa (Furniture)
Bench (Furniture)
Strawberry (Fruit)
Television stand (Furniture)
Magnolia (Flower)
Rose (Flower)
Wrench (Tool)
Screwdriver (Tool)
Dahlia (Flower)
Drill press (Tool)