When teaching, it is imperative that teachers consistently and consistently check students’ understanding of content before, during, and after class. While we are all familiar with the typical Do Now, Warm Up, and Exit Ticket checks for comprehension, how can we as teachers ensure that our students understand the content while making the activity fun? and attractive? Below is a list of six “quick checks” that teachers can incorporate into their routine to check their students’ understanding, while also identifying any difficulties students may be having. The time frame for assessments varies from 1 minute to more than 20 minutes, depending on how much time the teacher wants to spend on the activity.
one to five
This assessment is very quick and provides teachers with an immediate indicator of how well students understand the material. After a concept is taught, the teacher can simply ask the students “how well do you understand?” Students will then hold up their fingers from 1 (nothing) to 5 (perfect) to let the teacher know which students are still struggling. If students are shy and don’t want to put their fingers up, the teacher can place cards on the student’s desk, so that the student simply turns to the card with the appropriate number, out of sight of other students.
envelope of questions
During class, the teacher will pass out an envelope, and if a student has a question, they can write the question on a note card and put it in the envelope. At the end of the period, the teacher will read and answer the questions to clear up any confusion or misconceptions the students may have.
question partner
This is an engaging assessment that can range from 5 minutes to 20+ minutes, depending on how deep you want to go. For this activity, students will have a list of questions (created by themselves or by the teacher) to ask their partner. For this activity to be completed successfully, all students should have a graphic organizer where they write the question and the answers provided by their partner. By having students write responses, they are not only reinforcing the material, but also holding them accountable for their work.
one minute answer
One Minute Answer provides quick feedback and an understanding check on a given topic for the teacher. The teacher will pose a question to the class, and the class will have a certain amount of time (1-5 minutes) to write their answer. This activity can be completed at the end of a lesson over a longer period of time (5 minutes), or it can be done throughout the lesson in shorter increments (1-2 minutes) to check for understanding.
blackboard
This activity is very fun and engaging, and is usually well received by students. The activity can be done independently or in pairs; Group work is not recommended for this activity because it is important that all students’ voices are heard. The teacher will pose a question to the students, and they will have to write their answer on a white board. The teacher can ask students to explain their answer or, if students have different answers, they can engage in a discussion about who is right. If you don’t have whiteboards, an easy way to make them is by laminating sheets of paper.
Parking lot
Similar to the question envelope, this strategy allows teachers to gather student questions in one place. The teacher should designate a certain part of the room or chart paper to become the “parking lot” where the questions are written. Students can write their questions on sticky notes and stick them in the parking lot, or they can write them directly on the piece of paper. The parking lot questions do not have to be specifically related to the content of the day, but can address the essential question or topic of the unit. The teacher can then review the parking lot questions with the class on a daily or weekly basis.