Powerful Teaching & Powerful Classrooms --> Powerful Renewal

Two years ago, I had the opportunity to lead a team of Educators seeking to improve their instruction, and we had the best time diving into Powerful Teaching. As teachers/instructors of upper grades, we were looking for something to meet the needs of our adolescent learners. Wow! We were blown away by the information we received from these two amazing lead learners, educators, and authors! My favorite nonfiction material to read is written by experts that have taught in the classroom/worked in the K-12 setting (& as a University Adjunct, my preference is widening to include higher ed as well). We loved how Pooja Agarwal and Patrice Bain broke down their work and results in not only bite-sized steps, but how each chapter was broken up into specific action steps we could take/make to improve our instruction with our learners. While I had first heard the term interleaved practice from Jamey Peavler, it was awesome to read & discuss the implications with colleagues utilizing this resource! During the study, we focused on these 3 main ideas to enhance instruction:

1. Retrieval Practice

Retrieval practice involves actively recalling information from memory, rather than passively reviewing notes or textbooks. This technique strengthens long-term retention and deepens understanding. Instead of simply re-reading material (which most of us are guilty of thinking is best practice for study), students should regularly be quizzed or prompted to retrieve and apply what they've learned.

• Example: Use frequent, low-stakes quizzes or "recall" activities where students write down everything they remember about a topic after a lesson. This forces their brain to practice retrieving information, which reinforces their learning. Beginning every class with a spiral review quiz sometimes results in a groan, but we also have fun with who can remember and retrieve the most information. 

2. Spaced Practice

Spaced practice refers to revisiting material over time, spreading out study or review sessions. This is the opposite of cramming, which leads to quick forgetting. When information is spaced out across multiple learning sessions, it improves retention and mastery.

• Example: Break up learning content over several days or weeks, revisiting key concepts periodically. You might have students study a topic one day, then review it the next week, and again after a few weeks, ensuring that they revisit and reinforce their knowledge. This really made me reflect on syllabus creation and being sure to revisit material throughout the semester.

3. Interleaving

Interleaving involves mixing different topics or concepts during study or practice rather than focusing on one topic at a time. This method helps students see connections between concepts and improves their ability to apply knowledge flexibly in various contexts. Interleaving enhances problem-solving skills by forcing learners to switch between different types of problems, fostering deeper understanding.

• Example: Instead of teaching all math problems of one type in a row, interleave different types (e.g., algebra, geometry, word problems) in one lesson or study session, so students get practice with varying challenges.