By Pooja K. Agarwal, Ph.D.

Great teachers are always thinking about how to improve their teaching, and implementing evidence-based strategies in the classroom is critical. Here are five reading challenges to encourage you to learn about the science of learning.

Important: make sure you remember what you learn! Engage yourself in retrieval practice and retrieve two things after each book, practice guide, and research article you read. Share your two things with our communities on Twitter and Facebook, make a list of what you’ve learned to boost your long-term learning, and let me know which reading challenge you complete. Happy reading!

Reading challenge #1 (beginner): Read one book

For an introduction to the science of learning:

• I hope you have my book, Powerful Teaching, on your reading list. My co-author and I share more than 20 years of research expertise and 25 years of teaching experience to bring you the most powerful and practical classroom strategies to transform learning.

• Have you already read Make it Stick and Small Teaching? Here are 16 more books on the science of learning to add to your list.

• Make sure to check out the newest book on the science of learning by The Learning Scientists, Ace That Test

Reading challenge #2 (intermediate): Read free downloads

To level up your reading:

• Read my 7 free practice guides on the science of learning, with practical tips to implement retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving, metacognitive strategies, and more.

• Read a free e-book on the science of learning, co-written by nearly 100 cognitive scientists. Challenge yourself by reading at least three chapters (it’s a whopping 538 pages in total).

Reading challenge #3 (advanced): Read one research article

Here are my two recommended articles for learning about retrieval practice research in schools – I challenge you to read just one.

• Read my literature review in Educational Psychology Review to get caught up on all the retrieval practice research that’s been conducted in authentic classroom settings. (click here for a summary)

• Read my research article in the journal JARMAC on how high school students study and why retrieval practice reduces test anxiety.

Reading challenge #4 (nerd alert): Read multiple research articles

• Read 10 recommended journal articles written by women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ cognitive scientists.

• Read 37 research articles from my literature review on retrieval practice (click here for tips on how to access research articles)

• Read 40 research articles by these featured cognitive scientists (links in each profile)

Reading challenge #5 (geek extraordinaire): Read everything on retrievalpractice.org

As of today, RetrievalPractice.org includes more than 100 teaching resources based on the science of learning – all by scientists you can trust, all with practical classroom tips, all free. If you complete all 5 reading challenges, email me and let me know!