I've Given an Exit Ticket, Now What Do I Do? (& a FREEBIE!)

Exit tickets are one of my non-negotiable when it comes to something that I have to have in every single one of my lessons.  If you teach a lesson and don't give an exit ticket, what was the point of teaching that lesson?  What data did you collect and how do you know what to do next? Yes, you might be able to gather some qualitative data, but to truly know what the students know, you need to give an exit ticket!  So now that I've convinced you, what do you do AFTER you've given an exit ticket?  There are so many amazing ways to use Exit Tickets!  Keep reading to learn just a few fun idea on what to do after you've given an exit ticket!

#1 - Use them to help your students reflect on their learning

When you've given a short exit ticket, you've just collected a student's thinking and what better way to collect that data than to also collect their thinking about HOW they did on the exit ticket or HOW they feel on the content itself.  Having students reflect on their exit tickets is a simple way to get the students' opinions about where they are in their learning journey.  You can do this in a lot of ways:  When turning in exit tickets you can have them sort them into a specific tub or folder based on their level of understanding, you can have them rate themselves (using a Marzano's scale perhaps) and write their number in the corner of their exit ticket, or you can simply have them draw a smiley face on their exit ticket next to their name to show how they feel.  Use this time and allow students to reflect on their learning when you give them an exit ticket!

#2 - Identify the most common misconceptions 

After you've given an exit ticket, you now have all of this data in your hands.  Don't just check them and throw them away or give them back.  You need to USE the data!  Here's what you can do:  Go through each exit ticket that had a mistake on it and write down all of the errors that students are making.  If you find repeats, then just put a tally next to them.  When you're done, look at your list and identify the top three misconceptions that students made on their exit ticket.  Now here's what's best - Take that list and write it on the front board the next day (or next lesson) for the students.  Number them #1 -3 and pass back the exit tickets to the students.  Have them analyze their exit ticket and match the mistake they made to the misconception on the board.  If their mistake matches have them write the number on their exit ticket.  This just became their goal for today's lesson.  This is now their focus to fix and work on and improve.  We've now taken this data and given it back to them and put the learning into their hands.  So powerful & meaningful!

#3 - Use them to group students

Make grouping students more practical and quicker with this easy strategy.  As you're grading your exit tickets, label them.  Make a key for yourself so you don't forget.  (Example - square = high, triangle = average, circle = low).  Write a shape (or whatever you decide to label) on their exit tickets.  Then when you give them back at the next lesson you can easily have them form mixed ability groups, like ability groups, pair up high/low, etc.  This makes your grouping much faster and more strategic!  

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#4 - Conduct 'Error Analysis'

Students are going to make mistakes on their exit tickets, so let's use these mistakes to our advantage!  Gather up all of the 'incorrect' exit tickets and at the start of your next lesson, anonymously place an exit ticket under your document camera and showcase this as your 'favorite mistake'.  Ask students why it's your favorite mistake.  What mistake do they see?  How can we fix it?  You can repeat this process with 1-3 exit tickets depending on time.  You can have students fix the error collaboratively as well to get them talking right at the beginning of the lesson.  

#5 - Conduct mini conferences

Again, so much data at your finger tips but don't be selfish and keep it to yourself!  Since your exit tickets are short and sweet (no more than 3-4 quick questions), going over them individually with students shouldn't take long either.  I like to keep a pile of them on my desk (if I'm not using them for another reason like mentioned above) and I have mini conferences with these students at very random times.  Why not take them with me when standing in the hallway waiting on students to use the restroom?  I can easily have a talk with 1-2 students about their exit ticket, how they did and what they need to improve on.  Or what about when you're waiting on students to get coats and book bags to line up to go home or go to lunch?  There's 2 minutes you can talk with someone about their exit ticket too!  You'd be surprised how many mini conferences you can squeeze in when your conversation is focused around a short exit ticket!

There are MANY more ideas where these came from.  Just subscribe by the photo above to grab your printable idea list & exit ticket sorting mats!  

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