Reteaching: a Few Considerations for Frustrated Teachers

Renewed vigilance includes renewed enthusiasm.

Teach it Again, Sam

Teachers are often frustrated when they think they have done an excellent job teaching a particular subject and the results of student assessments are much below what they expected. The frustration often leads to reteaching and another disappointing bunch of tests. What’s up?

The very first things to consider when reteaching are what you did and didn't do. Teachers who decide to reteach should carefully self-assess how they taught a topic the first time and look again at the assessment. Teaching the topic over again using the same methods and assessments is likely to produce the same results. One cannot assume that the initial problem was lack of attention and that the second time around students will attend better and learn better.

Break it Up

Although teaching standards in discrete components is always advisable, it is especially important in reteaching. Examine the standard and determine how best to present it in progressive parts that build as you teach.

Use More Formative Assessments

In order to check progress, add more formative assessments to verify progress. Use variety: worksheets, cooperative learning, PowerPoint presentations, videos, and some short and sweet techniques like questioning students individually to check for understanding. Individualized instruction will likely be advisable, so make appropriate arrangements depending on resources, which might include peer teaching. I’m not big on homework as a teaching method, but a single, key task that can be quickly accomplished is sometimes an appropriate use of homework. Remember, formative assessments are not for grading.

Don’t get Angry!

To take student failure personally and retaliate against students is wrong. If most of the class doesn't learn, then the teacher has received confirmation that the standard was taught poorly for that class. Accept it and move on to do better the second time. Don’t get preachy; don’t fuss at students; don’t give them the impression that you are reteaching because they screwed up. Have a serious discussion that will lead to an understanding of why they failed.

Grading the Second Attempt

There just isn't agreement in the nation or world about how to grade students. Unless there are specific guidelines that teachers must follow, I advise that the best grade from the first and second assessment  be recorded. Teachers spend a lot of time needlessly worrying about fairness in grading. In my experience as a teacher, principle, author, etc. I just can't say what works best, but I don't think it shakes the world for a teacher to replace a test score with a better one if it is earned. Be fair, be good, and do the best thing! You are the expert in your classroom – at least you should be.

Renewed Vigilance

The time committed to reteaching is valuable – don’t waste it! Be committed a new teaching approach that constantly monitors learning. Ask lots of questions, give better examples, make the standard as relevant as possible by connecting it to topics students can connect to. If management problems interfered with teaching be ready to correct those.

More:

Art and Science of Teaching / Reviving Reteaching, Robert J. Marzano

5-Step Procedure for How to Intervene or Reteach, Brenda Weaver