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Challenge We produce short-term gains but students quickly forget

Summary

�They knew this when I taught it to them last term, but in a few months they forget everything.� This is common experience for teachers. A lot of time is spent on review but that doesn't cure the problem. When you ask students questions that probe their understanding, they seem uncertain and without depth of knowledge. What can we do about it?

Research also shows that conventional methods of teaching typically produce short term gains, but with substantial loss over periods of a few months. For related reasons, state tests, and national and international surveys of mathematics attainment, show disappointing levels of achievement and relatively small yearly gains.

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