Spaced Practice in Practice

SPACED PRACTICE IN PRACTICE

The following are general examples of how teachers have provided instruction, guided practice, and independent practice.

Instruction

Explain to students why they need to space their practice.

Example: “Even though we try to remember things, we all forget some of what we learned. We need to go back over information we’ve studied several times to make it stick. That can be re-reading but also doing other things to remember such as using flashcards, quizzing ourselves, and explaining information to somebody else. In basketball, for instance, when we are learning the game, we don’t just shoot baskets all at one time and expect to be a skilled player. We practice making baskets on a regular basis.

Explain or illustrate why spaced practice is better than cramming for your students.

Example: Some people try to learn what they have to right before a test. That’s called cramming. It actually takes longer to learn information at one time than if you did a lot of smaller study sessions. And, once you take the test, that information usually just disappears from your brain. All that studying wasted.

Introduce spaced practice in a lesson plan.

Example: It’s a good idea to identify the most important facts or skills you want students to remember and also to chunk the information for easy practice. That makes the key information easier to practice in a variety of ways such as class discussions or homework. Tell your students to do the same when they are scheduling their study time.

Develop a practice plan that incorporates spaced practice.

Example: This can be done in a formal plan or throughout the day. For example, if there is a break in the day, ask students a question related to material studied in a previous lesson.

Guided Practice

Provide opportunities for students to practice.

Example: Design homework assignments that space out information learned and incorporates questions or activities from lessons in the past.

Provide feedback and support to students as they practice.

Example: One way to do this is to include past test questions reworded differently on a new test or have frequent low-stakes quizzes.

Guide students through reflection on and application of spaced practice.

Example: Ask students how they plan to study for a test and suggest a study schedule.

Independent Practice

Support students as they personalize application of spaced practice.

Example: For example, interleave the practice of two different subjects and tell them it might take more effort but they’ll retain more because of their effort.