The Surprising Way This Teacher “Tricks” Her Students Into Studying

Forget highlighters, mnemonic devices, and elaborate annotating. Has the best high school testing strategy been under our noses this whole time?

High school science teacher and content creator @lets.get.chemical shares a testing strategy that might seem like somewhat of a hot take at first, but her reasoning is spot-on. Take a look:

@lets.get.chemical

Cheat sheets have been a game changer in my classroom #teachersoftiktok #teachertip #highschoolteacher #middleschoolteacher #teacherhack #scienceteachertips #teachersoftiktok #tiktokteacher #teacherideas #teachertok

♬ original sound – Let’s Get Chemical

The teacher goes on to explain why these note cards pack such a huge punch as an effective high school testing strategy:

1. Students learn to study

One of the most common complaints from secondary teachers (and students!) is that they don’t know how to study. The teacher says this strategy makes students review all the content from the unit or chapter and consider what could be tested material.

2. It builds academic self-awareness and the skill of prioritizing information

With this strategy, students have to evaluate what kind of information they don’t remember as well to put on the note card versus what information they’ve already mastered. With only a 3×5 note card to work with, they’ll have to prioritize certain types of information over others.

3. It allows her to test students’ application of knowledge instead of recall

It might seem like allowing students a “cheat sheet” on all tests is lowering the standard for student performance. But in reality, it allows a teacher to keep the assessment an authentic measure of the application of students’ knowledge as opposed to simple recall.

What commenters are saying about this high school testing strategy:

The comment section sang the praises of this strategy. Students, parents, and teachers all say it’s been a game changer!

Personalizing studying helps cement knowledge long-term

It’s helpful for students with learning disorders

“It single-handedly taught me how to effectively study.”

Helps with testing anxiety

The process is more valuable than the product!

We love this fresh way of looking at “cheat sheets”—not as cheating, but as making testing better for everyone involved!

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