SLANT

Here is a wonderful acronym developed by KIPP schools to help remind students how to pay attention. I think what makes SLANT so great is that it doesn’t assume kids know what to do in order to stay focused. Instead, it breaks down what exactly a paying attention person would do. Plus, it’s a great little word to use when giving guidance, “Make sure you are SLANTing!”

Sit Up.

Listen.

Ask & Answer Questions.

Nod Your Head.

Track the Speaker.

I plan on working this into my classroom vocabulary this year and displaying a SLANT poster prominently on the wall.

Acronyms for Learning

Acronyms might seem cheesy at upper levels…but they do work at locking away information in your memory. Just take a look at this:

Blasphemy! I clearly remember my very educated mother jut served us NINE PIZZAS. Yes this may have been back in 2nd grade, but see? I’m proving my point!

Even if acronyms don’t receive the constant spotlight they deserve in the classroom from you, at least make sure to post them prominently on your walls. Students will be able to refer to the acronyms as they work and hopefully allow some of that stellar knowledge to seep in.

Teaching Tip: Want to ensure that students remember the material? As an activity, let them create their own acronyms and mnemonic devices for what they have learned. I promise you they will remember it much more easily after taking an active role in creating a way to store it in their brain.

Here are just a few acronym examples, focused on English, since that is what I teach.

Conjunction Words-

• For
• And
• Nor
• But
• Or
• Yet
• So

Essay Introduction Information-

• Author
• Title
• Type of selection
• Time Period

Essay Prompt Reminder-

• Answer the
• Question
• Asked

Writing Checklist-

• Capitalization
• Usage (grammar)
• Punctuation
• Spelling

Poetry Analysis-

• Title’s meaning
• Paraphrase
• Connotation
• Attitude
• Shifts
• Title- reevaluate meaning
• Theme

If you have any more acronyms worthy to add to this list, please mention them!