As parents, we often wonder how best to support our children’s learning, especially when preparing for crucial exams like the 7+ to 11+ tests. One powerful tool in your arsenal is understanding how memory works—particularly the concepts of recency and revising. By tapping into these techniques, you can help your child retain information more effectively and feel more confident on exam day.
What Is the Recency Effect?
The recency effect is a fascinating aspect of memory. It suggests that we’re more likely to remember the last thing we read, heard, or studied. For example, if your child is going through a list of spelling words or math formulas, they’re likely to remember the last few items better than those in the middle. This is because the most recent information is still fresh in their short-term memory.
So how can you use this to your child’s advantage? Here are a few tips:
- Break Study Sessions into Smaller Chunks: Instead of a long, continuous study session, break it into shorter sessions with breaks in between. This way, your child benefits from the recency effect multiple times, making it easier to retain more information.
- End with a Review: At the end of each study session, encourage your child to review the most important points. This repetition strengthens their memory and helps solidify the information.
The Power of Revising
While the recency effect helps with short-term memory, revising is key to transferring that information into long-term memory. Revising doesn’t mean cramming all over again—it’s about reviewing information at spaced intervals to reinforce learning.
Why does revising work so well? When your child revises, they’re not just recalling information; they’re actively reprocessing it. This repeated exposure allows the brain to create stronger connections, making it easier to retrieve the information later.
Here’s how to incorporate effective revision into your child’s study routine:
- Create a Revision Schedule: Plan regular revision sessions that revisit material covered earlier in the week, month, or term. Spaced repetition is a proven technique that can dramatically improve retention.
- Use Different Methods: Encourage your child to revise using a variety of methods—such as flashcards, mind maps, or teaching the material to someone else. This variety keeps the brain engaged and helps deepen understanding.
- Mix It Up: Revising different subjects or topics in one session can help with memory retention. Known as interleaving, this technique ensures your child is continually engaging with a mix of material, which can make learning more robust.
Combining Recency and Revising for Success
By understanding and applying the recency effect and regular revising, you’re setting your child up for success. Here’s a simple routine to follow:
- Start with New Material: Introduce new concepts or topics at the beginning of a study session.
- Revisit Previous Material: Halfway through, take a moment to review what was learned in previous sessions.
- End with Recency in Mind: Conclude the session by focusing on the most important or challenging material, leveraging the recency effect.
- Schedule Regular Revision: A day or two later, revisit the material covered, using varied methods to reinforce learning.
This combination not only boosts your child’s memory but also builds their confidence as they prepare for their exams.
Learn how we use this at https://fynschool.com
Remember, the goal isn’t to study harder, but smarter. By embracing these techniques, you’re helping your child develop effective study habits that will serve them well—not just for exams, but for lifelong learning.