S03E16 - Kate Jones on Making Retrieval Practice Work in the Classroom
Knowledge for Teachers
What is retrieval practice and why it matters
Kate defines retrieval practice, explains encoding vs retrieval, and how using memory strengthens it over time.
What if forgetting wasn’t failure, but actually part of the learning process?
In this episode of Knowledge for Teachers, Brendan Lee sits down with bestselling author and educator Kate Jones to explore what retrieval practice really looks like in the classroom. Kate shares practical strategies for making retrieval a habit, clears up common misconceptions, and shows how small tweaks — from scaffolding questions to giving feedback that sticks — can transform learning.
Along the way, you’ll hear stories from Kate’s own teaching journey, insights from research and creative ideas teachers can use right away. Whether you’re just starting out with retrieval or looking to deepen your practice, this episode will leave you with simple, sustainable ways to help knowledge stick and build your students’ confidence.
Resources mentioned:
- Why Students Don’t Like School — Daniel Willingham
- Love to Teach — Kate Jones
- Retrieval Practice series (multiple books) — Kate Jones
- Retrieval Practice: Myths, Mutations and Mistakes (free ebook, Evidence Based Education) — Kate Jones
- Flashcards ebook (Evidence Based Education) — Kate Jones
- ResearchEd Guide to Cognitive Science (Kate wrote chapters on retrieval and spacing; Jonathan Firth on interleaving)
- Dunlosky (2013) - Strengthening the Student Toolbox
- Retrievalpractice.org (Pooja Agarwal’s meta-analysis of classroom studies)
- Carousel Learning (Adam Boxer)
- TES (retrieval templates)
You can connect with:
Twitter/X: @KateJones_teach
Email: katesofiajones@gmail.com
Website: https://www.katejoneseducation.com/
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
enuine research from marketing spin, why fluency is about much more than speed, and the dangers of relying on “engagement” as a proxy for learning. Anna also highlights simple, practical strategies—like cover-copy-compare and spaced retrieval—that help students build the confidence they need to tackle more complex maths.
If you’ve ever wondered how to cut through the noise and focus on what truly improves student outcomes, this conversation is packed with insights you can take straight back to your classroom.
Resources mentioned:
- Wise Math (advocacy group)
- Archimedes Math School
- JUMP Math (Canadian maths program)
- Singapore Primary Math Program
- ResearchEd (conference, where Anna presented)
- Chalk and Talk (Anna Stokke’s podcast)
You can connect with Anna:
Twitter/X: @rastokke
Website: https://www.annastokke.com/
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Linkedin: @brendan-lee-kft
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About
Dr. Anna Stokke is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Winnipeg. She is a recipient of a 3M National Teaching Fellowship, which is Canada's most prestigious award for teaching excellence and educational leadership at the post-secondary level. She is co-founder and President of the non-profit organization Archimedes Math Schools, which delivers after-school math classes for children. She hosts the popular math education podcast Chalk & Talk, where she discusses evidence-informed math teaching with leading education experts.
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