Retrieval Practice is one of the most well researched learning strategies. For some, it is often associated with older students preparing for their exams. But can it help young students learn both Maths and spelling?
Recent studies suggest that Retrieval Practice can be equally beneficial for younger learners, helping them to grasp foundational subjects. In this blog, we’ll explore how Retrieval Practice works, why it’s so effective and how you can implement it in your classroom to boost your students’ learning outcomes. Read on to learn more about…
- What is the science behind Retrieval Practice
- How Retrieval Practice helps with Maths
- How Retrieval Practice helps students’ spelling
What’s the science behind Retrieval Practice?
When students engage in Retrieval Practice, they are essentially training their brains to access and apply knowledge efficiently. This process helps to solidify the information in their long-term memory. In contrast, passive learning methods tend to focus on short-term memorisation, which often leads to forgetting the material soon after. Retrieval Practice has been shown to improve not only memory retention but also the understanding of complex concepts.
What does the research say?
Mathematics
In a fascinating study from a Dutch university involving 48 young students, researchers explored the effectiveness of Retrieval Practice on learning multiplication facts. The students underwent two different learning strategies:
- Retrieval Practice – Using flashcards, one group practiced recalling multiplication answers from memory.
- Restudy – The other group chanted the multiplication facts out loud as a group, a method commonly used in schools.
The results were clear: Retrieval Practice significantly outperformed the restudy method over both long and short-term periods.
This study demonstrated that Retrieval Practice, especially using flashcards, is highly effective in enhancing both immediate and long-term retention of multiplication facts. This suggests that you could consider incorporating Retrieval Practice into your classroom to boost your students’ fluency and confidence in Maths.
Spelling
Another recent study researching Retrieval Practice in younger students compared it with another common spelling instruction method, rainbow writing. Students participated in two days of spelling practice followed by tests, one day and five weeks later.
- Rainbow writing – Students copied spelling words in different colours.
- Retrieval Practice – Students took practice quizzes and checked their answers against the correct spellings.
These experiments comparing Retrieval Practice and rainbow writing for spelling accuracy revealed significant benefits of Retrieval Practice, with average improvement around 10% higher. Students reported equal or greater engagement with Retrieval Practice compared to rainbow writing. When asked to choose between the two methods, Retrieval Practice was preferred as a future instructional method and was rated higher for both learning and liking. Most importantly, the benefits of Retrieval Practice were maintained over a five-week period, indicating effective long-term learning.
Final thoughts
Retrieval Practice is a powerful yet often overlooked technique that can significantly enhance the learning experience for younger students. By incorporating retrieval strategies into your teaching, you can not only help your students retain information more effectively but also foster a deeper understanding of key concepts in Maths and spelling
To help your staff to understand and apply the latest and most important Cognitive Science research such as this, join our Teacher CPD Academy today!
