As a teacher, you're likely juggling a ton of different tasks and responsibilities. But have you ever considered using exit tickets in your classroom? These little tools are a great way to quickly assess your students' understanding of the material you're teaching, and to make sure that everyone is on the same page before moving on to the next topic.
What are Exit Tickets?
Exit tickets are simple prompts or questions that you can give to your students at the end of a lesson or activity. They allow you to get a quick read on how well your students have grasped the material and can help you to adjust your teaching approach to better meet their needs.
Why Should I Use Exit Tickets?
Now, you might be thinking, "But I already have so much on my plate! Why should I add something else?" There are many reasons for you to use these simple, effective tools in your classroom.
They will save time - Here's the thing: using exit tickets can actually save you time and effort in the long run. By getting quick feedback on how well your students are understanding the material, you can make adjustments on the fly and avoid having to spend extra time re-teaching or correcting misunderstandings down the line.
They provide data and show progress - By using exit tickets regularly, you'll be able to track your students' progress over time and identify areas where they may need more support. This can be incredibly helpful when it comes to planning future lessons or units, as you'll have a better understanding of what your students already know and what they still need to learn.
They promote self-reflection - Exit tickets require students to reflect on what they've learned and how they're feeling about the material. This can help them internalise the information and make connections between different concepts.
They help you to personalise learning - By using exit tickets, you can quickly gauge each student's understanding of the material and adjust your instruction to meet their individual needs. This can help you create a more personalised learning experience for each of your students, which can improve their engagement and ultimately lead to better outcomes.
They help you to adjust instruction - By using exit tickets, you can get a sense of what's working and what's not in your teaching approach. This can help you adjust your instruction to better meet your present and future students' needs and improve learning outcomes.
What Are Some Different Types of Exit Ticket?
There are many different types of exit tickets that are available on the internet, or that you can develop yourself. Here are just a few examples:
1. Multiple Choice - this is a quick and easy way to assess student understanding of key concepts. Use simple and clear answer choices to avoid confusion.
2. Short Answer - this type allows students to demonstrate their understanding in their own words. They can be used to assess higher-level thinking skills such as analysis or synthesis.
3. Drawing or Sketching - ideal for visual learners and students who are not confident writers. They allow students to demonstrate their understanding in a creative way.
4. Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down - a simple, quick way to assess whether students understood a concept or not. This can be useful for checking understanding of more complex or abstract concepts.
5. One Thing I Learned Today - asks students to reflect on the most important thing they learned during the lesson. It helps students prioritise key ideas and reinforce their understanding.
6. Exit Slips - allows students to ask questions or share feedback on the lesson. They can provide valuable insight into areas where students may need additional support.
7. Traffic Lights - use the colours red, yellow, and green to indicate understanding. Red: I don't understand, Yellow: I'm still unsure, Green: I understand well.
So, why not give exit tickets a try? They're a quick, easy, and incredibly powerful way to improve student learning outcomes and make your life as a teacher just a little bit easier.
Check out our Maths Exit Tickets for Year 1 Students. They are aligned to the new Australian Mathematics Curriculum v 9.0. More year levels are coming soon!