Retrieval Practice Strategies

 

Strategy	Example
Retrieval Practice Placemat: Promotes verbal discussion amongst peers about previous content covered.
Brain Dumps	Give students alloted amount of time to recall as much as they can from memory about a specific event, individual, concept, theory, etc.
Picture Prompt: Present a picture related to to a concept or skill taught and students will need to explain the relationship between the picture and the concept in their own words from memory.	How is each image connected to Henry VIII?
Cops and  Robbers: The 'cops' column is for students two write as much as they can from memory about a specific topic, similar to brain dump. Then they find a peer so they can swap and share ideas. Any new information would go into the robber side.  Guides could be added to support younger learners. For example, discussion the Revolutionary War you could include prompts: dates, people, places, etc.
Walkabout Bingo: Students will be given a sheet with different questionslinked to the topic or subject. they cannot answer the questions themselves. Students will need to walkaround asking their peers the questions. The purpose is to have all the questions asked by different members of the class. The first person to do so will shout, "BINGO".
Retrieval Relay Race: for each race, there will be a key topic, event, individual or idea. There will be four boxes, one for member of the relay team. First students complete the first box with every they know about the topic. Then they will need to find a peer to complete box #2. The peer can not repeat any information from box #1.
Retrieval Grid: Using a grid with multiple boxes, the teacher will insert a specific element of a topic already studied -- no new material. The box could refer to a concept, event, individual, key term or date. At the start of the lesson every student will pick one of the boxes and write as much as they know from memory about the chosen category. The next day the student will chose a new box to recall as much information as they can.  *This can be made more challening by adding point values to boxes. Challenging questions will have more points.
MentiMeter: Engages audience, instant feedback, and checks for understanding without identifying specific students in class. Very similar to PollEverywhere.