KTMS Radio Commentary
Without review, the average student
can forget 80 percent of what he has read in just two weeks.
To help students retain what they
have learned, the first review of the material should come very shortly after
they study the material for the first time.
The early review acts as a check on
forgetting and helps them remember far longer. When the time comes to review for
a test, the material is fresher in the mind and easier to recall.
It also helps sometimes to recite
the material out loud. Recitation reinforces the material and creates a
different pathway into the memory banks.
It also helps, after reading a paragraph,
to have the student use his or her own words to describe key ideas.
One other helpful homework tip has
proven effective for many families: When students are given a study assignment
that will be due in a few weeks, the students should spend five minutes on it
the very first night.
They should read it through
carefully, and think about all the elements that need to be done, including
research, artwork, memorization, or something creative.
The main advantage is that the
student avoids waiting until the last minute and discovering, too late, all
that should have been done in the meantime.
