DAILY CUMULATIVE REVIEWS

Daily cumulative reviews are beneficial in strengthening student understanding and application of concepts and skills. Research consistently indicates the importance of daily reviews to strengthen student mastery of concepts and skills (Leinwand, 2009). Daily reviews do not need to be extensive and they shouldn't be a drilling exercise. Including daily a few problems (five or less) that integrate previously learned concepts and skills can strengthen student retention of learning. The previously learned concepts and skills can be from earlier in the academic year or from previous grade levels. The reviews can be integrated as part of morning work or homework, a class opening activity, or with other instructional activities. It is essential for the teacher to review student work and responses to these daily reviews (whole class discussion/review or other format) to identify areas of student mastery as well as areas of possible unfinished learning or misconceptions. Daily cumulative reviews can be helpful in identifying areas of misconception or unfinished learning.

References

Leinwand, S. (2009). Accessible mathematics: 10 instructional shifts that raise student achievement. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.