Read: Part 1: Start with Why and/or Classroom Routines: You will metacognate for background
When my student asked for cumulative reviews the first, highest barrier was figuring out how I could possibly make custom materials, at a scale that would be useful, without going insane or putting in more hours than I had to give.
There was a learning curve, but with practice, and a system, it now fits into my weekly prep routine without too much fuss.
Essential Supplies: One of those accordion folders with multiple pockets, scissors, glue stick, paper.
(I have dreams of one day getting organized enough to do this electronically, but I’m not there yet)
The Process:
Round 1: New school year, I stock the first section of my accordion folder with a few worksheets worth of review skills that students should know coming in. I cut out 1 or two problems from 3 or 4 sheets and glue stick them to a piece of scrap paper. I make copies and answer keys, the class does them, then moves on to learn some new math. At the end of our learning, I put some of the leftover materials in a new pocket of the folder.
Round 2: One or two problems from 2 or three review skills, plus a problem or two of the newly learned skill. Glue stick. Copies. Answer key. Class. New math. Extra materials to the accordion folder. (Each unit or major skill gets a pocket in my folder)
Round 3: A few review problems, one or two of the skill we learned two weeks ago, and one or two more of the skill we learned last week. Glue stick. Copies. Answer key. Class. New math, extras to the accordion folder.
Rounds 4 to n: 6 or 8 or 10 (if I’m feeling ambitious, mostly 8ish) problems cut from increasingly scrappy looking worksheets.
As the year goes on and we’ve learned more than 6 or 8 or 10 skills, I select quickly, without getting too bogged down. There’s always the last thing we learned, a selection of previous skills, and usually some basic number sense item that I want to drive into their brains through the power of repeated practice.
Most weeks, it takes me about half an hour to make review sheets, answer keys and copies for two levels of classes. (My classes change just enough each year that I haven’t found it worth it to try to reuse them from year to year, but maybe you’re consistent enough to pull it off)
I’ve created a template (although you hardly need it)
The essential elements:
Organization. For me, the accordion folder (perhaps for you another easy-organization binder-ish alternative) If I had to find 6 or 8 or 10 types of math questions every week, I wouldn’t do it, but I can cut and glue 6 or 8 or 10.
Letting go of any perfectionist impulses. I move quickly and don’t agonize too much over which items to include (or how DIY it looks). This is the power of doing it regularly – anything I don’t cover sufficiently this week, will certainly be covered in other weeks.
Stay tuned for Part 3: Putting it into Practice and Part 4: Implementation Considerations
