Why do I say you will LOVE using exit tickets for math? Because they will make your teacher life more efficient, save you planning time, and best of all – help your students master important math concepts! Do any of these benefits interest you? Keep reading – I’m sharing how this works for you!
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What is an Exit Ticket for Math?
Exit tickets are a formative assessment of a math skill or math standard that tell you if your students have:
- mastered a specific math skill or standard
- misconceptions that are preventing them from mastering that math skill or standard
Exit tickets assess students on one math concept only. For example, an exit ticket for the 3rd-grade multiplication standard (OA.A.1 – Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5 × 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each.) could look like this:
If a student draws an array or equal groups that correctly represent 4 x 8 = 32, they have shown mastery of this standard.
An exit ticket must be written in such a way that students have to show how they got the correct answer, which is why they cannot be a multiple-choice question.
Why You Will Love Using Exit Tickets for Math
For teachers, exit tickets are a quick and efficient way to assess students after a lesson. Because exit tickets are assessing only one standard or skill, you will be able to sort them into these three groups easily:
- Mastered the standard or skill
- Almost mastered the standard or skill
- Did not master the standard or skill
This sorting activity takes 5 – 10 minutes and will save you planning time. Why?
Because students in group 1 don’t need to practice this skill again. In the example below, this student has correctly drawn an array to represent the multiplication equation 4 x 8 with 4 groups of 8 circles and given the correct product of 32.
Students in group 2 need some remediation from you in order to overcome misconceptions or procedural errors. This example shows that the student correctly drew the array, but made a calculation error.
Group 3 needs the most help and this can be accomplished in a small group. This student doesn’t understand the concept of multiplication yet. The student interpreted the equation 4 x 8 as 4 + 8 in both the math model and the answer.
Exit Ticket Data – Now What?
Using exit tickets is a waste of time and paper if you don’t use the data you collected. So, what is the next step?
Planning your next lesson and math centers.
In the examples I used above, Group 1 doesn’t need more practice or instruction using math models to represent multiplication equations. Neither does Group 2 because the error was in a calculation, not the model.
Group 3 needs more practice and instruction on drawing arrays and understanding that 4 x 8 is 4 groups of 8, not 4 + 8. This will require more intense instruction and practice in a small group or one on one setting.
By using exit tickets and sorting them into these 3 groups, you can quickly get data that shows you how many students are ready for the next skill and how many need additional practice.
Can you see how using exit tickets will help you in your classroom?
They will:
- Help you be more efficient (quick and easy way to gather data)
- Save planning time (you know exactly what your students need)
- Help student master grade level standards (address misconceptions immediately)
I use exit tickets for all 3rd grade math standards in my classroom which is why I created this year-long bundle of 3rd Grade Exit Tickets.
If you would like a closer look at this time-saving bundle, click on the arrow to watch the video below:
Don’t have time right now? Save this pin to your 3rd Grade Reading Pinterest Board!
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