6. Revisit, revisit, revisit
As learners are taught new topics, their memory of previous learning can get a little hazy. Cognitive neuroscience reinforces the importance of regularly reviewing previous learning. Practice makes permanent. When we revisit something we’ve already covered, it helps our learners to retrieve the knowledge stored in their memories.
Homework provides a great opportunity to ask pupils to return to a previous topic. Not only does revisiting topics help to keep learners on their toes, but seeing topics alongside new learning helps children make connections between different areas of maths. The more connections learners create, the more secure their learning will be.
Each time a learner is asked to revisit a topic, they strengthen their memory. And over time, the gap between each time a topic is revisited becomes longer as their memories become stronger.
Make sure your learners know why they are revisiting prior learning — do they understand what’s happening in their brain when they are learning? Or when they are asked to recall previous knowledge?