How to Improve Long-term Memory with Spaced Practice – Part 2

In my previous blog post, I explained that the key to improving long-term memory is through spaced practice – short retrieval practice sessions, which are spaced out over time. As pupils practise little and often, knowledge is consolidated more efficiently and can be accessed more readily.    

In this post, I explore how teachers can implement spaced practice in the classroom. I also answer some frequently asked questions about spaced practice.

How to implement spaced practice in the classroom

1) Devise your spaced practice schedule

Look at your scheme of work. If material is being taught across more than one lesson, it is relatively easy to dedicate a portion of each lesson to revisiting the previous lesson’s material.

You can use short quizzes, flashcards, practice questions, multiple-choice questions, or any other retrieval methods. It is important to vary your retrieval methods so that pupils can access the information in different ways.  

The more complex a topic, the better it is to break up the material into smaller chunks and spread them across more lessons.

It is easy to think that once a topic has been ‘covered,’ it can be left until the weeks leading up to a test or exam. But try to revisit older material from previous topics as you teach new topics. This will improve long-term memory and performance in summative assessments.

Short quizzes or multiple-choice questions on the topic which is being currently learned, mixed in with questions on older topics, is a good option.

2) Tell your pupils about spaced practice

Explain the principles and benefits of spaced practice to your pupils.

When pupils struggle to recall information about older topics, they can become discouraged. But if pupils understand how spaced practice works, they will know that frequent revisiting of older material will make knowledge ‘stick’ in their long-term memory.

Compare revisiting older topics to professional musicians or athletes practising basic skills as part of their warmup.

Using spaced practice is especially important for tests and exams. To prevent pupils from cramming, help them plan a spaced revision schedule.

3) Set homework that revisits old topics

Get your pupils to engage with spaced practice independently. Set homework on topics covered several days or weeks ago. It will help consolidate the material into their long-term memory.

4) Embrace technology

Cut down on your workload by using existing flashcards or quizzes on websites such as Kahoot or Quizlet. Encourage your pupils to use them at home to reinforce their learning.  

5) Review progress and adjust your schedule

Spaced practice schedules should not be rigid. As you gauge how well your pupils are doing (through formative assessments), make any necessary adjustments to your spaced practice schedule.

Frequently asked questions:

Can spaced practice be used for all subjects?

Yes, spaced practice can be used in different ways for all subjects.

How much time should I leave between sessions?

There is no set recommendation for spaced practice. It all depends on the age and abilities of pupils, the difficulty of the learning material, and how familiar pupils are with the material.  

It is best to revisit the material the next day if possible. As the rate of forgetting declines after the first few sessions, larger gaps can be left between subsequent sessions.

How many spaced practice sessions should there be?

For long-term learning, there should be as many spaced practice sessions as possible. But spaced practice is a flexible strategy, so tailor it to the needs of your pupils.

What should pupils do in between spaced practice sessions?

It does not matter what pupils do in between spaced practice sessions. The main thing is that they are engaged in something different so that their brains have time to consolidate the information.

Is spaced practice difficult to implement?

Initially, you might find it challenging to incorporate spaced practice on older topics into current lessons. However, spaced practice should not involve major restructuring of lessons. Remember it is all about practising little and often, so just try your best to incorporate some retrieval practice on older topics into your lessons.

Final thoughts

Do not worry about whether you are leaving sufficient time between spaced practice sessions or how many sessions are optimal. Explain the principles of spaced practice to your pupils, see how they do in the sessions, and make any necessary adjustments. Your pupils will soon reap the benefits of improved long-term memory and better learning outcomes.

Dr Shaira Kadir is a qualified secondary school teacher working as a freelance copywriter. You can view her profiles on the ProCopywriters directory and LinkedIn.

Retrieval Practice is a technique which enables children to recall what they have learnt. It strengthens knowledge retention and encourages young learners to engage with and use new skills and knowledge. Therefore, retrieval practice is a powerful revision tool. Sophie, KS1 Lead at Ryarsh Primary School in Kent describes how their journey into Cognitive Science research and retrieval started and how this practice has grown and adapted to the benefit of their students.