Read the tables from top to bottom, and from left to right. You can remember the proper order for the basic kana characters with the saying:

Here's my two techniques on how to memorize the characters easily.

1) "Kana Signs, Take Note How Much You Read and Write them."

2)  KaSaTaNaHaMaYaRaWaN.

Once you memorize these secret keywords, you can easily remember other characters on the line. You need also to memorize the top keyword "a i u e o", and this is use for pairing the vertical and horizontal characters.

Just remember that vowels are first and end up with the character "n".