FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What is the most effective teaching strategy to employ when students struggle to recall information from a previous lesson?

1. Provide a thorough review and involve students in summarizing

2. Move on to a new topic immediately

3. Assign additional homework to reinforce learning

4. Ask open-ended questions to encourage discussion

The correct answer is: Provide a thorough review and involve students in summarizing

Providing a thorough review and involving students in summarizing is the most effective teaching strategy when students struggle to recall information from a previous lesson. This approach reinforces the material by revisiting key concepts and allowing students to engage with the content actively. During a review, students can clarify any misunderstandings and build connections between new and previously learned material. Involving them in summarizing facilitates deeper cognitive processing, as students articulate the information in their own words, which aids retention. This method creates a supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and is particularly effective for consolidating knowledge. Other options, such as moving on to a new topic immediately, do not address the gaps in understanding and may lead to further confusion. Assigning additional homework could add pressure rather than reinforcing the learning, making it less effective as a sole strategy. While asking open-ended questions can stimulate discussion and engagement, it might not specifically target recall of the previous lesson’s content without a structured review. Thus, the thorough review combined with student involvement directly addresses the challenge of recalling information, making it the most beneficial strategy in this scenario.