7 Best Learning Strategies to Help Students Succeed in School

The way students approach learning plays a major role in how well they perform. Fortunately research has confirmed that teaching students specific learning techniques can lead to better academic outcomes. Teachers can support this by

Directly teaching these strategies in class
Encouraging students to apply them during regular lessons
Motivating students to use them while studying at home

Let’s explore what learning strategies are and which ones are most effective for boosting academic success.

Understanding Learning Strategies

Learning strategies are tools and techniques that students can use to make learning easier and more effective. These approaches vary widely. Some are tied to particular subjects or tasks such as

Writing structured PEEL paragraphs in essays
Using estimates to check math problem answers

Others are broader and can be applied across many subjects. Research has shown that a handful of these general strategies deliver particularly strong results.

Also See: Hattie and His High Impact Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know

7 High Impact Learning Strategies for Students

Here are seven proven strategies that consistently enhance student learning and memory retention

Linking to Prior Knowledge
Outlining Key Information
Retrieval Practice
Spaced Repetition
Seeking Feedback
Self Monitoring and Asking for Help
Reorganizing and Transforming Information

Let’s look at each of these in detail

1. Linking to Prior Knowledge

Students don’t start learning from scratch. They already have ideas and experiences that shape their understanding. By connecting new information to what they already know students can grasp concepts more easily and retain them longer.

This method sometimes referred to as elaboration encourages learners to ask

Does this confirm something I already knew
Has it expanded my understanding
Has it changed my earlier beliefs
Is it different from but related to something I’ve learned before

Before starting a new topic guide students to reflect on what they already know about it. This habit helps create mental connections that make learning more meaningful.

2. Outlining Key Information

Outlining is the process of organizing key ideas in a clear and structured way. Students can create outlines by

Writing bullet points
Drawing diagrams
Mixing visuals and text

The key is to focus only on main ideas and leave out less important details. Outlining can be used to

Summarize a single lesson
Link ideas across multiple topics
Connect content to personal experiences

This strategy has shown strong impact in studies with an average effect size of 0.85 meaning it significantly boosts learning.

3. Retrieval Practice

Retrieval practice means pulling information from memory rather than just reviewing notes or rereading a textbook. Surprisingly this simple act of recalling helps strengthen long term memory more than studying alone.

This was first known as the testing effect and research shows it improves learning by up to 93 percent. Examples include

Asking themselves questions like why isn’t 9 a prime number
Talking through steps of a process out loud

Even without feedback the process of retrieval itself helps students retain information longer.

4. Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition is the practice of reviewing material over several sessions rather than cramming it all at once. For example

Study a topic on Monday
Review it again on Thursday
Practice it again next week

This method is far more effective than massed practice which is studying everything in one go. On average students using spaced repetition perform 15 percent better than those who use cramming methods.

5. Seeking Feedback

While giving feedback is important students benefit even more when they actively seek feedback. Research shows that students who regularly ask for feedback can perform up to 42 percentile points higher than those who don’t.

Students can seek feedback from

Teachers
Classmates
Family members
Answer keys or online tools

Encourage them to go beyond just checking answers and ask why something is right or wrong. That deepens their learning.

6. Self Monitoring and Asking for Help

Self monitoring means recognizing when they understand something and when they don’t. This can happen during

Listening to a lesson
Reading a textbook
Doing classwork

Once students realize they’re confused the next step is seeking help. Although this may seem basic many students hesitate to ask questions. Teach them that asking for help is a strength not a weakness and it’s one of the fastest ways to improve understanding.

7. Reorganizing and Transforming Information

Transforming information involves reworking what has been learned into a different format. For example

Turning written steps into a visual diagram
Comparing two topics using a Venn diagram
Creating timelines or charts to explain sequences

By changing how information is presented students discover new relationships between ideas. This strengthens their memory and understanding.

Additional Learning Strategies Worth Teaching

Some other powerful strategies worth integrating into your classroom include

Rehearsal and Practice

Rehearsal helps move information from short term to long term memory. Techniques include

Using flashcards
Creating mnemonics
Memorizing lines or definitions

Practice involves applying knowledge especially through retrieval. Studies have shown that retrieval based practice is 55 percent more effective than rehearsal alone.

Problem Solving Techniques

Problem solving is a key skill that can be taught using structured methods. One well known approach is Polya’s Four Step Process

Understand the problem
Plan a strategy
Carry out the plan
Reflect and review

Within this process students can use strategies like

Drawing diagrams
Eliminating extra information
Applying formulas
Working backwards

This helps with math and also improves reasoning in other subjects.

Asking for Feedback

Encourage students to request feedback proactively. This mindset shift puts them in control of their learning and helps them identify areas for growth. Students who understand that effort leads to improvement are more likely to use feedback in a constructive way.

How to Teach These Strategies Effectively

It’s not just about what strategies you teach but how you teach them. Research suggests the following steps

Explain the purpose and benefits of each strategy
Model how to apply it in real situations
Provide guidance as students try it themselves
Give feedback on their use of the strategy

You might begin the school year by dedicating 5 to 10 minutes daily for a week or two to focus on these strategies. Later continue integrating them into regular teaching across different subjects.

Conclusion

Teaching students how to learn is just as important as teaching them content. By using high impact learning strategies like retrieval practice outlining spaced repetition and feedback seeking students can take charge of their education and see real improvements. The earlier they adopt these techniques the better their long term results will be.

As a teacher helping students master these tools is one of the most powerful ways to make a lasting difference in their academic journey.