“Repetition is the First Principle Of all Learning”
Robert F. Bruner
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “Practice makes perfect.” Everyday life shows us that repetition forms the base for learning, developing skills, and accomplishing goals. For example, when children first learn to walk, when they learn to speak, to sing, to read. It is through repetition that they develop their ability.
The science behind repetition
Neuroscience explains that to learn is to create neural connections, and repetition is how they are strengthened. That’s why it is so important that we provide students the opportunity to do the same thing over and over again. Through repetition, they will gain skill and confidence in their actions.
But isn’t repetition boring and demotivating? Not necessarily. It depends on how you organize it. Repetition comes in many forms. You can ask your students to read the same story but in different ways (silently, aloud, including gestures, in groups, and as many others as you can imagine). You can ask them to practice how to draw a number many times, but changing color, size, drawing material, etc.
Moreover, you can add incentives, so the children work harder when they need to do repetition enthusiastically, or rewards for work well done.
Using digital tools for repetition
Do you remember when the pandemic made us change our teaching methods? We discovered that we could still use the best incentives and rewards we had used in the classroom, the stickers and sticker books. Now, we can use their digital version, perfect for engaging children in repeating something several times and getting a digital sticker as a reward.
Remember that repetition is the secret of learning. Therefore, we should look for motivating opportunities for our students to repeat things until they learn them. And, of course, to incentivize them can do the magic. And a reward for the effort would be perfect for their self-esteem. Don’t miss their mesmerized face!
Analia Rossello
I’m an English teacher with many, many years enjoying classroom time with first-graders, as well as with high school students. I really love teaching; I love planning and creating the best content and activities for my students, those that will give them enjoyment and learning at the same time. However, what I love the most is watching them while that magic happens and after that, when they’re praised or rewarded for their achievements. That completely fills my heart!
