Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-1-retrieval-practice

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [Teacher CPD](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd.md) › [CPD: Talking To Parents about Learning](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning.md) › Retrieval Practice

# Retrieval Practice

CPD: Talking To Parents about Learning (by Patrice Bain), topic 1.2.1

## Retrieval Practice Reduces Test Anxiety

In a study by Agarwal et al. (2014), 1,500 students were asked about the effect of retrieval practice on their levels of anxiety. See the image for the results.

![](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2021-02/cb3f9175-a452-43da-9342-7c11a7e47cb7/Screenshot%202021-02-02%20161017.png)

The reason why students were less anxious for tests is that they were ready!

## Strategies to Use Retrieval Practice

Here are suggestions for parents to help their children with retrieval practice.

### Mini-quizzes

![Mini-quizzes](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-07/dfed4093-d152-48c2-a4d6-e85df00cd2f9/question-2736480_1920.jpg)

- Take a look at the child’s homework. Randomly pick 3-5 questions and simply ask them.  
 - You have just helped your child retrieve! 
- If your child is older and prefers independent study they can write their own questions, put them in a jar, and randomly picks a few of them to answer.
- **The key is to retrieve the answer, not simply to read over the question.**

### Flashcards

![Flashcards](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-11/42ef5fbc-1892-43f2-894e-80aa5d712c18/white-card-.jpg)

- Always go through flashcards three times. This ensures going beyond guessing to knowing the correct answer.
- Always shuffle the deck; it is easy to become familiar with “what’s next”.
- The important thing is to try and retrieve the answer and not simply read the back of the card.

### Brain Drains

![Brain Drains](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/9a76d1fd-635f-49a5-bd37-36d7c22782cf/brain-mri.jpg)

- While the child is studying, call for a quick “time out”. 
- Set a timer and put all notes aside.
- Child writes or tells what has just been studied.

- This simple activity not only allows for retrieval, but it also has shown to help students’ organization of knowledge.

### Two Things

![Two Things](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-06/2852a728-a8f9-4d18-8531-8ade4688f9ba/2-step-2.jpg)

- Rather than ask, “How was your day?” rephrase to include retrieval.  
 - Tell me Two Things you learned in science (or any subject) today.
 - Tell me a story that your teacher told today. What do you think were the two most interesting parts?

## Test yourself on Retrieval Practice

- What is correct about retrieval practice?
- What were the results of Agarwal et al. (2014) about retrieval practice and test anxiety?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/1953aa1b-a24e-48c2-9b11-6ac617481b15/section/57f5cde6-25b3-4b28-b315-e1048b964a53/session)

- Previous topic: [1.1.3 Cognitive Overload & Desirable Difficulties](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-1-3-cognitive-overload-and-desirable-difficulties.md)
- Next topic: [1.2.2 Metacognition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-2-metacognition.md)

## CPD: Talking To Parents about Learning (by Patrice Bain) contents

### 1 Talking to Parents about Learning
- 1.1 How do we Learn?
  - [1.1.1 How do we Learn?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-1-1-how-do-we-learn.md)
  - [1.1.2 Memory and the Brain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-1-2-memory-and-the-brain.md)
  - [1.1.3 Cognitive Overload & Desirable Difficulties](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-1-3-cognitive-overload-and-desirable-difficulties.md)
- 1.2 Powerful Learning
  - [1.2.1 Retrieval Practice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-1-retrieval-practice.md)
  - [1.2.2 Metacognition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-2-metacognition.md)
  - [1.2.3 Spacing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-2-3-spacing.md)
- 1.3 Learning Tips for Home
  - [1.3.1 Learning Tips for Home](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-talking-to-parents-about-learning/1-3-1-learning-tips-for-home.md)