Some of you may remember that I'm active in community theatre. Yes, I sing, dance, and create some wonderfully quirky characters. At yesterday's rehearsal, we were working on a scene that got me thinking about the importance of review. We were working on choreography for It's a Wonderful Life, the musical. (Don't you love the movie? The musical stage show is even more awesome!)
Whether we're learning choreography or important skills in an elementary classroom, review is an essential part of the process!
Why Review Matters
Children learn best through repetition and meaningful practice. Research tells us that information moves from short-term to long-term memory when it’s revisited multiple times, in different ways, over time. Without review, even the most exciting lesson can fade from memory after a few weeks. (Just like our choreography!)
For elementary students, review does more than strengthen academic skills; it builds confidence! When students realize they remember something they learned weeks ago, they feel successful and capable. That confidence carries over into new learning.
When to Review
Review shouldn’t just happen before a big test. It can (and should!) be a regular part of your classroom routine. Here are a few ideas:
Morning Work: Include a quick spiral review of math or grammar skills from earlier in the year.
Transition Times: Use a few minutes between subjects to review a quick question or play a flashcard game.
Friday Fun: End the week with a review game show, scavenger hunt, or trivia challenge to revisit the week’s concepts.
Centers: Add review stations where students practice previously learned material in fun, hands-on ways.
How to Keep Review Engaging
Review doesn’t have to mean another worksheet! Here are some creative ways to make review time something your students look forward to:
Games: Try “Jeopardy,” “Scoot,” or “Around the World.” Kids love a little friendly competition!
Partner Challenges: Have students quiz each other or explain how to solve a problem. Talking about what they've learned helps them internalize it!
Interactive Notebooks: Revisit past pages and have students add new connections or reflect on what’s changed in their thinking.
Crafts and Projects: Combine art and academics! For example, making a life cycle wheel, sorting word families, or creating math fact posters. Integrating the arts deepens learning!
Some helpful review resources:
Regular review shows students that learning is an ongoing process, not something that’s “one and done.” It gives you valuable insight into what students remember and what might need reteaching. Plus, review activities often provide opportunities for collaboration, laughter, and positive classroom energy.
Review isn’t about repeating learning, it’s about reinforcing it. By weaving review into your daily and weekly routines, you’re giving your students a stronger foundation for future success.
So next time you’re tempted to skip review in favor of something new, remember: a few minutes of review today can make a world of difference tomorrow.
