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As we head into the break, one of the most effective and surprisingly simple ways to stay prepared for the HSC and IB courses is through retrieval practice: actively trying to remember what you\u2019ve learned without looking at your notes. In this week\u2019s Year meeting, I shared with the 2026 cohort one simple strategy and tracker sheet to help them develop their retrieval practice over the summer break.<\/p>\n
Why is this important?<\/strong><\/p>\n Research across education and cognitive science shows why this works so well:<\/p>\n John Hattie\u2019s Visible Learning<\/em> research highlights spaced practice and metacognition (thinking about what you know and don\u2019t know) as high-impact strategies that significantly boost achievement.<\/p>\n Cognitive psychologists like Roediger and Butler show that testing yourself strengthens long-term memory far more than re-reading.<\/p>\n Studies by Karpicke and Blunt found that students who regularly recalled information even with simple free recall tasks performed better after a week than those who used more time consuming strategies like concept mapping.<\/p>\n A simple idea for the holidays: create a Daily Recall List<\/strong><\/p>\n Step 1: Choose Your Focus Step 2: Recall Without Looking Step 3: Check and Correct Step 4: Track Your Progress Unsure where to start or how to hold yourself accountable? See the canva link below to a daily recall tracker for your daughter to use:<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0\u2714 Select 4\u20136 key syllabus points or dot points from one subject.
\n\u00a0\u2714 Write them in the table below.<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0\u2714 Set a timer for 10 minutes.
\n\u00a0\u2714 For each dot point, write down or verbally explain everything you remember. No notes or study resources.<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0\u2714 Open your notes and fill in the gaps.
\n\u00a0\u2714 Highlight anything you forgot, \u00a0this becomes tomorrow\u2019s focus for recall.<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0\u2714 Repeat daily using new or previously challenging dot points.
\n\u00a0\u2714 Aim to cover each syllabus area twice over the break.<\/p>\n
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