The key part of interleaving practice is to have the students explicitly notice what the question is asking, eg circumference from diameter or diameter from circumference. Sometimes the weaker learners benefit from actually tracing out the shape so they can see which is larger or smaller. Also homework can be a disaster as they can just reinforce the wrong method if they don’t get instant feedback. That’s why I use online platforms like Dr Frost so the answers are checked immediately.
I use an online platform as well (DeltaMath) that also provides feedback, but I still find students can get stuck and frustrated without the support they have in class. That's why I try whenever I can to get some focused practice and feedback during class, and have them start any homework in class where they can get some help if they get stuck.
Focused practice in class is super important that’s for sure. I don’t like learning the hard way that they haven’t really got the method I’ve tried to impart! I really like Crap g Barton’s website on Variation Theory questions but it takes quite a bit of training to get discussions going.
I've used variation theory-style questions as well, and I've also had trouble getting the reflect-expect-check-explain habit going or to get good discussions out of them. I still find the structure helpful if only to help focus students' attention on specific features of problems.
I agree! Spaced practice and interleaved practice are two great tools. I've had an easier time implementing spaced practice; getting interleaving right has been a lot harder, which is part of why I wrote this post.
The key part of interleaving practice is to have the students explicitly notice what the question is asking, eg circumference from diameter or diameter from circumference. Sometimes the weaker learners benefit from actually tracing out the shape so they can see which is larger or smaller. Also homework can be a disaster as they can just reinforce the wrong method if they don’t get instant feedback. That’s why I use online platforms like Dr Frost so the answers are checked immediately.
I use an online platform as well (DeltaMath) that also provides feedback, but I still find students can get stuck and frustrated without the support they have in class. That's why I try whenever I can to get some focused practice and feedback during class, and have them start any homework in class where they can get some help if they get stuck.
Focused practice in class is super important that’s for sure. I don’t like learning the hard way that they haven’t really got the method I’ve tried to impart! I really like Crap g Barton’s website on Variation Theory questions but it takes quite a bit of training to get discussions going.
I've used variation theory-style questions as well, and I've also had trouble getting the reflect-expect-check-explain habit going or to get good discussions out of them. I still find the structure helpful if only to help focus students' attention on specific features of problems.
This is great. In addition I think spaced practice is also helping a lot.
Revisiting a practice topic several times over the following days or weeks or months is a very good method of increasing retention rates.
I agree! Spaced practice and interleaved practice are two great tools. I've had an easier time implementing spaced practice; getting interleaving right has been a lot harder, which is part of why I wrote this post.