How to Boost Math Retention with Spiral Review and Writing
If you’ve ever taught a concept in September only to have students stare blankly at you in November when it comes up again… you know the frustration. Retention is one of the biggest challenges in middle school math.
Students don’t just forget formulas or steps—they forget the connections that make math make sense.
So, how can we help our students retain what they’ve learned for the long term?
Let’s talk about one simple, powerful strategy: spiral review with writing.
Why Students Forget So Quickly
Math builds on itself. When students move from one unit to the next without revisiting previous concepts, their understanding fades fast. It’s not that they never learned it—it’s that their brains haven’t had enough chances to use it in meaningful ways.
Spiral review gives students those opportunities by revisiting old topics regularly. But adding a writing component to that review takes it to the next level.
The Power of Writing in Math
Writing helps students process their thinking.
When they explain how they solved a problem—or why one strategy worked better than another—they’re doing more than recalling steps. They’re connecting ideas, using math vocabulary, and reinforcing conceptual understanding.
A few examples of math writing prompts that promote deeper thinking:
“Explain how you know if an equation has one solution, no solution, or infinitely many.”
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“Describe a time you made a math mistake and what it taught you.”
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“Compare solving proportions by cross multiplying and by finding unit rate. Which do you prefer and why?”
These types of questions encourage reflection and critical thinking—skills that naturally lead to better retention.
How to Implement Spiral Review with Writing
Here are a few simple ways to make this strategy part of your routine:
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Warm-Ups: Start class with one or two review problems and a short writing prompt.
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Weekly Reflection: Have students choose one concept from the week to write about—what they learned, where they struggled, and what strategies helped.
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Exit Tickets: End class with a quick math writing prompt to reinforce that day’s learning.
You don’t need to overhaul your lesson plans—just sprinkle small, consistent writing opportunities into your existing spiral reviews.
A Ready-to-Use Resource
To save you time, I’ve created a set of Math Writing Prompts designed specifically for middle school spiral review. These prompts cover key math concepts and can be used in warm-ups, journals, or exit tickets.
They’re quick to implement, encourage deeper thinking, and help your students remember what they’ve worked so hard to learn.
Retention doesn’t have to be a constant struggle. With a little intentional spiral review and purposeful writing, you can help your students strengthen their understanding—and make math stick for good.
