Exit Tickets

We have a poster hanging on the door of our room.  The top of the poster reads "Exit Tickets."  I use exit tickets as a quick way to check if kids are "getting" what has been taught. 

Here's how it works:  
After I've taught a lesson I will ask the students a question about what has been taught.  The students will write the answer on a sticky note and place it on their corresponding number on the Exit Ticket poster.  They usually do this on their way out the door - hence the name exit ticket. :)  

Exit tickets can be useful in all subjects, but I primarily use them in reading.  For example, we spent time as a class comparing and contrasting fiction and non-fiction text features.  At the end of the lesson students were asked to read independently.  While reading independently students were to look for fiction or non-fiction text features (depending on what type of book they were reading).  Students were asked to record 1 example from their book on a sticky note and place it on the Exit Ticket.  I always read exit tickets to see which students are and aren't grasping the concept that has been taught.  I often, but not always, record a grade for exit tickets.  Exit tickets are usually worth 5 points each.