What is the main purpose of Mr. Goodman's strategy of having students summarize previous lessons at the start of each class?

The main purpose of Mr. Goodman's strategy of having students summarize previous lessons at the start of each class is fundamentally about helping students retain new knowledge. This approach allows students to reflect on and articulate what they have learned, reinforcing their understanding and memory of the material. Summarizing previous lessons encourages cognitive processing, which is vital for embedding information into long-term memory.

Engaging in such summarization can also help students identify gaps in their understanding, creating a foundation for new concepts introduced in the current lesson. Consequently, this technique not only boosts retention but promotes a deeper grasp of the subject matter as students actively engage with their prior knowledge. By revisiting and consolidating earlier lessons, students are better positioned to link new information with existing knowledge, thereby facilitating more meaningful learning experiences.