Does your child spend hours studying for a test but struggle to remember the information when it’s time to answer questions?
You’re not alone! Many students spend time rereading notes, highlighting textbooks, or reviewing completed assignments. While these strategies can help students become familiar with information, they don’t always help them remember and apply what they’ve learned independently.
So, what’s one strategy that can help?
Active Recall!
What Is Active Recall?
Active recall is a learning strategy that encourages students to retrieve information from memory without immediately looking at their notes or textbooks.
Instead of simply rereading information, students challenge themselves to remember what they learned and explain it in their own words.
For example, rather than rereading a page about fractions, a student can close their notebook and try solving a fraction problem independently.
This encourages students to actively engage with the material instead of passively reviewing it.
3 Ways to Practice Active Recall at Home
You don’t need expensive materials or complicated activities to help your child practice remembering information. Here are three simple strategies parents can introduce at home.
1. Use Flashcards
Flashcards are a great way to practice remembering vocabulary, math facts, definitions, and important concepts.
How to use them:
Read the question or vocabulary word.
Ask your child to provide the answer without looking.
Flip the card to check the response.
Review questions that were challenging.
Encourage your child to explain their answers rather than simply guessing.
2. Try a Brain Dump
A brain dump allows students to recall information they have learned without referring to their notes.
How to use it:
Give your child a topic they recently studied.
Ask them to close their notebook.
Have them write down everything they remember about the topic.
Review their responses together and identify information they may have forgotten.
This is a helpful way to identify what your child understands and which areas need additional practice.
3. Practice Without Looking at Notes
Practice questions are another effective way to encourage students to retrieve information.
For example, if your child is preparing for a math test, give them a few problems to solve without looking at worked examples.
For reading or science, ask them to explain a concept in their own words.
Once they finish, review their answers together and revisit any concepts that need improvement.
How Can Parents Make This Part of Test Preparation?
Instead of asking your child, “Did you study?” try asking questions that encourage them to demonstrate what they remember.
Here are a few examples:
Can you explain this concept without looking at your notes?
Can you solve a similar problem independently?
What are three things you remember from today’s lesson?
Can you teach me what you learned?
Encourage your child to practice in short sessions over several days rather than waiting until the night before a test.
Remember, getting an answer wrong during practice is an opportunity to identify a learning gap and work toward improvement.
The KTS Learning Approach
At KTS Learning, our goal is to help students become confident, independent learners.
During every tutoring session, we incorporate opportunities for students to retrieve information, explain their thinking, and practice skills independently.
We don’t want students to simply memorize steps or rely on someone else to provide the answers. We want them to understand what they’re learning, remember important concepts, and apply their knowledge in different situations.
Whether we’re working on fractions, multiplication, algebra, or reading comprehension, students need opportunities to practice what they’ve learned.
Our goal is not just to help students get the right answer. It’s to help them understand, remember, and apply what they’ve learned.
A Little Reminder for Parents
Learning takes time, and every child develops at a different pace.
If your child is struggling to remember information, consider changing how they study rather than simply increasing the amount of time they spend reviewing.
Start with flashcards, a quick brain dump, or a few practice questions. Small changes in study habits can help students become more confident in their learning.
At KTS Learning, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed!
Looking for additional academic support? Explore KTS Learning tutoring services and educational resources to help your child continue growing.
