Newsletter #4 - Repetitio Mater Memoriae

"Repetitio mater memoriae," a Latin phrase meaning "repetition is the mother of memory," is one of Dr Chris Perrin’s principles of classical education. It emphasises the importance of repeatedly reviewing information to solidify it in one's memory, a technique that is particularly crucial in educational settings and especially crucial at a young age – what Dorothy Sayers would call the poll-parrot stage.

At St Anselm’s we think that repetition serves as a powerful tool for teaching and learning. When pupils encounter information multiple times they are more likely to internalise and remember the content. The significance of repetition is rooted in cognitive science: repetitive exposure strengthens neural connections in the brain, facilitating better recall and understanding.

Songs and Chants

Songs and chants are powerful tools for facilitating repetition in the classroom, they make learning both enjoyable and effective! The use of rhythm, melody, and rhyme to reinforce memory and help pupils retain information.

One thing I used to enjoy doing when trying to demonstrate the power of this to parents of pupils in my school would be just to say the following, “In West Philadelphia…” and then wait until the words that I suspect are going round your mind came out “… born and raised”. The rhythm and rhyme combined with repetition meant that the lyrics of The Fresh Prince theme song are indelibly inked on the minds of my generation!

Of course, songs and chants also create a hospitable and vibrant classroom environment. The communal aspect of singing or chanting together will foster a sense of camaraderie among pupils.

Songs and chants will be heard regularly at St. Anselm’s. Expect to hear our children sing songs about Kings and Queens, about capital cities, about times tables, about biblical characters and many more!

In serendipitous timing our friends at Memoria Press have this week released a podcast on the benefits of memorisation. You can watch it here.