“A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.” -Francis Bacon

“Talent alone won’t make you a success. Neither will being in the right place at the right time, unless you are ready. The most important question is: “Are your ready?” -Johnny Carson

During follow-up conferencing this week I was asked a wonderful question. The teacher, from McKinney, Texas, asked if I could recommend some different Exit Questions. He said his students were growing tired of the same questions they’d had since the beginning of school. I first congratulated him on his regular use of small group activities and exit questions. I also promised him I’d post suggestions.

What are exit questions? In the Tabor Rotation Framework they are one of the ways teachers hold students accountable for the information they have learned. There are three basic questions which are recommended as classes implement Tabor Rotation. [Simple exit questions]

Exit questions also help students summarize the activity or game. A teacher can also use them for formative assessment and as a tool to assist in Clipboard Cruising. Student responses to exit questions can provide additional information when the teacher is forming Readiness Groups for Days 4 & 5 of Tabor Rotation.

George Ashline offers this explanation about the importance of exit questions,

“Exit questions such as these are a useful tool that can be used in a variety of educational situations and can offer valuable information and perspectives to those involved….These formative questions are presented and answered in a short period of time at a natural breaking point in instruction, and provide immediate feedback about participant understanding of the “big picture.” They also provide an opportunity to modify instruction and address any widespread confusion or difficulty.”

[http://www.nctm.org/news/content.aspx?id=618]

Here are more general questions a teacher could post in the room. When it’s time to respond, the teacher could empower the learner and let them choose the question.

1. Write one thing you learned today.
2. What area gave you the most difficulty today?
3. Something that really helped me in my learning today was ….
4. What connection did you make today that made you say, “AHA! I get it!”
5. Describe how you solved a problem today.
6. Something I still don’t understand is …
7. Write a question you’d like to ask or something you’d like to know more about.
8. What mathematical terms do you clearly understand or have difficulty understanding?
9. Did working with a partner make your work easier or harder. Please explain.
10. In what ways do you see today’s mathematics connected to your everyday life?

[http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/mathcatch/mainpages/assess_tools/exit_questions.html]

Diane Trim uses Exit Slips as an informal assessment tool. She uses these types of questions:

• What is this learning related to?
• Provide an example of this concept.
• How can I test what I’ve learned?
• How is this concept useful in my life?
• I would like to learn more about…
• The most interesting thing I learned in class was…
• Please explain more about…
• I wish…
• Why is this lesson important?
• List five things you learned today.
• List one thing you’d like to know more about.
• List one surprising thing you learned.
• Why study this?
• What is the most important thing to remember from this class?
• How can I apply this knowledge outside of class?
• What questions do you have about this lesson?

[http://www.insidetheschool.com/articles/the-exit-slip-as-an-informal-assessment-tool/]

Why use exit questions? They complete the circle of learning. It won’t matter as much which questions you ask, but the fact that you asked them.