Structured Review: Enhancing Student Retention Through Intentional Practice

If you’ve ever wondered how to help students retain more of what they learn, structured review is a proven method that helps students go beyond just “getting it” in the moment.

In our years of experience as educators and school partners at Learning-Focused, we’ve seen firsthand how structured review can make a significant difference in student achievement. Let’s explore what structured review is, why it’s essential, and how you can implement it effectively.

What is Structured Review?

Structured review is an intentional process of revisiting key concepts and skills at planned intervals throughout the school year. Unlike last-minute cramming before exams, structured review leverages strategies like concept maps, interactive activities, and monthly review schedules to reinforce learning over time. The aim is to ensure that what students learn becomes part of their long-term memory, improving retention and recall.

While structured review initially involves additional planning, the rewards are well worth the effort. Students not only retain knowledge longer but also feel more confident in applying what they’ve learned.

Why Structured Review Works

The concept of structured review is rooted in addressing the “forgetting curve” — a phenomenon described by researcher Hermann Ebbinghaus, which shows how quickly we lose information if we don’t revisit it. In fact, after just 20 minutes, our retention drops to about 60%, and within a month, it can fall as low as 20% without intentional review. Ebbinghaus’s research on the forgetting curve, supported by contemporary studies in cognitive science, underscores the importance of periodic review to mitigate memory decay.

Educators can counteract this forgetting curve by planning reviews at specific intervals. A structured approach might involve monthly review sessions, where content from the previous month (excluding the last two weeks) is revisited. This encourages students to “work harder” to recall what they’ve learned, making it stick in their long-term memory. This is especially effective in improving reviews for EOC, finals & EOY assessments.

4 Key Strategies for Structured Review

We have identified several effective strategies for making structured review both intentional and impactful:

1. Monthly Review Schedules: Schedule one day each month to review key concepts from earlier in the year. This approach helps students recall information just as it starts to fade, reinforcing retention.
2. Prioritizing High-Impact Standards: Focus review efforts on high-priority standards — those that are essential for future learning, aligned with external assessments, or have real-world applications. This ensures that the review time is well spent on the concepts that matter most.
3. Interleaving Concepts: Instead of focusing on one type of problem at a time, mix related concepts during review sessions. This “interleaving” helps students make connections between topics, leading to better long-term retention compared to traditional “block” practice, which often results in forgetting soon after testing. Studies from the Journal of Educational Psychology indicate that interleaving improves students’ problem-solving skills by encouraging deeper conceptual understanding.
4. Interactive Review Techniques: Activities like concept maps, family feuds, or educational games like Tic-Tac-Toecan make review sessions more engaging. Students are more likely to retain information if they’re actively involved in the learning process.

The Importance of Intentional Planning

Structured review isn’t just about reviewing content; it’s about planning when and how to do it effectively. Teachers should analyze student data to identify areas of struggle and adapt their review sessions accordingly. The goal is not just to prepare for the next test but to build a foundation that students can draw on for years to come.

Incorporating structured review into pacing guides and lesson plans is crucial for reinforcing student learning throughout the school year. Instead of relying on last-minute cramming, scheduling review days throughout the year can help students retain their learning beyond the classroom walls.

4 Ideas for Bringing Structured Review into Your Classroom

Implementing structured review might initially feel like an added challenge, but the benefits for student retention make it worthwhile. Here are some steps to get started:

1. Plan a Monthly Review Day: Set aside one day each month to revisit key concepts, focusing on material taught in previous months. For example, you can start with a 10-minute concept map activity, followed by a collaborative problem-solving session, and conclude with a quick formative assessment.
2. Identify High-Priority Standards: Determine which standards are most critical for student success in the long term and focus your review on these.
3. Mix It Up: Use interleaving techniques to mix different but related concepts in your review. This keeps students thinking actively about how concepts connect.
4. Make It Fun: Incorporate games, discussion prompts, and collaborative activities to make reviews engaging and interactive.

By shifting from last-minute review sessions to a structured approach, educators can help students move learning from short-term to long-term memory—setting them up for success not only on assessments but also in future learning.

Want to Improve Structured Review At Your School and In the Classroom?

Our newest “Strategies in Action” book and course on “Structured Review” dives deeper into each of the critical areas, tying them into student achievement.  You’ll get:

• Examples (and non-examples)
• Vocabulary instruction templates
• Visual tool ideas like graphic organizers, concept maps, and anchor charts
• Guidelines for review spacing
• Reviewing tips for EOY assessments

Contact us today to get the latest Strategies in Action book and make the most impact on student learning you can.