52 Simple and Effective Ways to Check for Understanding in Your Classroom
As a teacher, it can be challenging to ensure that all your students are following along with the lesson and truly understanding the material. To avoid leaving anyone behind or moving on too quickly, it’s crucial to check for understanding regularly. Here are 52 simple and effective ways to do just that:
1. Exit tickets
Give every student a small piece of paper, and ask them to write down a question or a statement related to the lesson before they leave the classroom.
2. Quick quizzes
Create a quick quiz with a few questions that relate to the lesson. This is a quick and easy way to evaluate what students have learned.
3. One-minute papers
Ask students to write down a summary of what they learned in the lesson in one minute or less.
4. Peer teaching
Have students teach the material to each other in small groups. This will not only help reinforce the material for the student teaching but also give the other students another perspective on the material.
5. Pair-share
Pair up students and ask them to share their understanding of the lesson with each other.
6. Group discussion
Have the entire class discuss their understanding of the lesson in small groups.
7. Think-pair-share
Ask students to think about the lesson for a few minutes, pair them up, and then ask them to share their thoughts with each other.
8. Four corners
Assign each corner of the classroom with a specific answer, students then stand in the corner that they believe is the correct answer.
9. Traffic light
Have students hold up a red, yellow, or green card to represent their understanding of the material (i.e., “I don’t understand,” “I kind of understand,” “I fully understand”).
10. Fist-to-five
Have students hold up their hand with a closed fist (“I don’t get it at all”) to five fingers (“I understand it completely”).
11. Call-outs
Pick a few students at random to answer questions about the material.
12. Group whiteboard
Have students work on a group whiteboard, where groups can answer questions, draw diagrams, and collaborate together.
13. Observations
Observe the students as they work through the example or problem and see if they are applying the correct concepts.
14. Individual whiteboards
Give students individual whiteboards, so they can work through problems and show their work to you.
15. Hand signals
Have students use specific hand signals to answer questions (e.g., a thumbs up for “yes,” a thumbs down for “no”).
16. Entrance tickets
Have students answer a question before they enter the classroom (i.e., when entering the room, they must answer a question related to the previous lesson).
17. Self-evaluation
Have students self-evaluate their understanding of the lesson and write down what they know and what they don’t know.
18. Reflection
At the end of the lesson, have students reflect on what they learned and write down any questions they still have.
19. Role-playing
Assign students specific roles to play, such as the teacher or a character from the lesson, and have them act out the material.
20. Scavenger hunt
Give students a list of questions related to the material and have them find the answers around the classroom or online.
21. True or false
Write true or false questions and have students answer with a thumbs up or thumbs down.
22. Kahoot!
Use Kahoot!, an online quiz platform to create a quiz based on the material and have students compete against each other.
23. Plickers
Use Plickers, a paper-based quiz system that requires students to hold up a card to answer multiple-choice questions.
24. Quizlet
Use Quizlet, an online flashcard platform, to create a quiz for students.
25. Jeopardy
Play Jeopardy with your class, with questions based on the lesson material.
26. Dice games
Create a dice game where students roll the dice and answer a question based on the number they get.
27. Board games
Create a board game based on the material that students must play to test their understanding.
28. Bingo
Create a bingo game and have students fill in the squares with answers to questions based on the material.
29. Jigsaw
Split the class into small groups, assign each group a different section of the lesson and have them present their understanding to the rest of the class.
30. Concept maps
Have students create a concept map to show their understanding of the material.
31. Mind maps
Have students create a mind map of the material to show how it’s all related.
32. Venn diagrams
Create a Venn diagram and have students fill in the parts that relate to the material.
33. Sketch notes
Have students take “sketch notes” during the lesson and present them to the class.
34. Role reversal
Play the role of the student and have the students teach you the material.
35. Alternative assessments
Create an assessment that isn’t a traditional test – such as a project – to evaluate students’ understanding of the material.
36. App-based quizzes
Use an app, such as Socrative, to create a quiz for students to complete.
37. Peer assessment
Have students assess each other’s understanding of the material and provide feedback.
38. Think-alouds
Ask students to talk through their thought process as they answer a question related to the material.
39. Teach-to-learn
Have students teach the material to younger students to reinforce their own understanding.
40. Classroom polls
Ask students to vote on their understanding of the material using an online polling system.
41. Video reflections
Have students create a video to reflect on what they learned in the lesson.
42. Podcast reflections
Have students create a podcast to reflect on what they learned in the lesson.
43. Picture prompts
Show students a picture related to the material and ask them to explain how it relates.
44. Class debrief
At the end of the lesson, have a whole-class discussion to summarize what students have learned.
45. Frequently asked questions
Create a list of frequently asked questions related to the material and have students answer them.
46. Modeling
Model a problem or example for students and ask them to demonstrate their understanding by repeating the process.
47. Peer grading
Have students grade each other’s work and provide feedback on areas for improvement.
48. Self-grading
Have students grade their own work, and reflect on areas for improvement.
49. Gamification
Create a game based on the material that students must play to test their understanding.
50. Independent practice
Give students a task related to the material to complete independently to show their understanding.
51. Differentiated instruction
Provide different assignment options that ensure all students can show their understanding in a way that works for them.
52. Reflection journal
Have students reflect on their understanding of the material in a journal prompt.
In conclusion, there are numerous ways to check for understanding in the classroom, and it’s important to use a combination of these strategies to reach all students. Use these 52 simple and effective ways to continually evaluate student understanding and keep them engaged in the learning process.
