The Value of Repetition
We’ve all learned that repetition is incredibly important to committing vocabulary terms to long-term memory. This is the big idea behind comprehensible input and many of the strategies used in a TPRS classroom: Kids need to hear us say it over and over again. But what percentage of kids actually hear each and every repetition? How many of them tune out?
And how many of them only need to hear something once, while their classmate may need more repetitions than we can possibly provide in one class period?
Quizlet as a repetition tool
Enter Quizlet: a fabulous tool for just this kind of differentiation.
If you’re not familiar with Quizlet, it’s an amazing resource for making online flashcards. It will also use your terms to create tests, spelling games, and other interactive practice tools. You can either upload your list of terms or search through the thousands of already created lists. Everything is free, except for a few premium features, which I have never needed. It is also customizable in any language with very high quality audio pronunciation!
Quizlet is not a new resource. It’s been around since 2005 and I’ve been assigning them for years as a study tool before assessments, but recently I started using it as part of a flipped classroom approach and it’s changed everything!
Create the quizlet for your students and have them “learn” the words for homework. Keep the lists short (under 20 terms, but ideally under 10), which is really important because we know the human brain can only learn about 7-10 new words a day.
They must use one of the study tools with audio before they can play the games or take the test. It’s important that they hear the words pronounced correctly.
Follow up activities
The following day in class, pass out your vocab list with three columns: Español, Inglés, Foto/Clave. This is a homework and comprehension check. Provide the terms in Spanish and ask fill in the other two, drawing a picture or writing a pneumonic device in the final slot.
Finally, spend the rest of class doing meaningful activities and using the words in context. It will cut down tremendously on the amount of time you devote to teaching vocabulary in class and have a really positive impact on student learning as well!
