October 3, 2025
Friday Focus Happy Friday! I hope everyone has had a great week. As we continue our journey through Powerful Teaching , I want to highlight one of the most powerful, research-backed strategies we've encountered: retrieval practice. This isn't just another teaching trend—it's a fundamental shift in how we approach learning in our classrooms. Why Retrieval Practice Matters 1. It Strengthens Long-Term Memory Retrieval practice works because the act of pulling information from memory actually strengthens that memory. Every time students retrieve information, they're making that knowledge more accessible for future use. Think of it as exercising a muscle—the more students practice recalling information, the stronger those neural pathways become. This goes far beyond simple memorization; it helps students truly retain and understand content for the long haul, not just until the next test. 2. It Reveals What Students Actually Know (and Don't Know) When students e...