What are Exit Tickets?
Exit tickets are quick, easy formative assessments that give teachers feedback about how well students understand a lesson and where their misconceptions lie. They can take a variety of forms such as a 3-Sentence Wrap-Up, Biggest Aha Quickwrite, or 3-2-1 Worksheet. The teacher typically gives a prompt in the last 5-10 minutes of class that is based on the day’s lesson. Students write their responses on a notecard or quarter sheet of paper and then turn them in as they leave the classroom.
Why Add Sorting Bins?
Having students self-sort their exit tickets according to their confidence level with the knowledge or skill being assessed adds a metacognitive component to the formative assessment. This not only builds student’s reflective and self-assessment skills, but also cuts down on the time it takes teachers to evaluate exit tickets, thus making it more likely that the exit tickets will actually be used to inform instruction and not just thrown in the trash once students are gone.
Sample Sorting Bins & Labels
Sorting bins can take the form of trays, baskets, file folders, even segmented posters (see the image gallery below for examples). Bins can be labeled in any way that shows a progression of student understanding and confidence. Here are a few examples:
- I don’t understand at all; I could use more practice; I completely understand
- Need more help; Getting it; Yes, I can
- Nope; Kind of; Almost; Got it
- Novice (I’m learning but I don’t have it yet.); Apprentice (I can do this if I look at an example or get help.); Practitioner (I can do this without any help.); Expert (I can do this on my own and explain how to do it.
- Even with help, I still don’t understand; I’m starting to get it, but I need some help.; I’ve got this! I can show that I understand; I am confident in my understanding. Ask me anything!
Epstein, T. "Using Exit Tickets Strategically." Achieve the Core, https://achievethecore.org/aligned/using-exit-tickets-strategically. Accessed 7 Sept 2019.
What to Do with Sorted Exit Tickets
- Look for errors. Take the tickets from your two lowest bins and sort them by type of error or misconception. Address each one in class the next day.
- Look for patterns. If nearly all the tickets are in the lowest level bin, it may be time to rethink or reteach the lesson. If nearly all are in the second level bin, your class may need more guided practice. If nearly all are in the third level bin, students may just need more independent practice time. If nearly all are in the highest level bin, it’s time to move on.
- Look for red flags. If a struggling student places his or her ticket in a high level bin, you’ve got an opportunity for celebration or perhaps a misconception to address. If your quick learners are placing their tickets in a low level bin, you may need to provide additional instruction or clarification the next day for the whole class.
- Look for the lost. If you have students put their names on the tickets, you can record the names of those with tickets in the lowest level bin and provide them with extra support the following day, either one-on-one or in small groups.