Using Partners for Reteaching

Frequent evaluation is the key to helping students not pick up bad habits, particularly in Math.  It may seem counter-intuitive to evaluate student responses early in the process of learning a new skill, concept, or algorithm but it is vital in order to stop bad habits from developing.  One way I do this is with peer partners.

One example is an exit slip I did at the beginning of a unit on volume.  I had just introduced the algorithm of length X width X height, moving students away from the "counting cubes" concept.  The front of the exit slip (shown) was all counting cubes.  The back was rectangle prisms that did not have cubes, but had measurements instead.  It was clear, looking at the front, that only 1/2 the class really mastered counting cubes.  Never fear, half the class has mastered this skill.  What to do?  Partners, of course!

I divided the exit slips into two piles: those that mastered counting cubes and those that didn't.  I randomly assigned partners by writing the same number on the top of their paper.  The following day, I passed back the exit slips.  I had the students meet with the person with the same number.  When meeting together, they had two jobs:
1.  Figure out what each person did wrong.  Write it down on the index card attached to the exit slip. Sign each other's cards.
2.  Fix the incorrect problems and pass the work back in.

Having students fix their own work is a powerful teaching opportunity.  It teaches students perseverance and problem-solving.  The more adept student learns as well.  They get to take on the role of a teacher.