When assisting students with their math activities and other academic work, it is often difficult for teachers to know how much help to provide. If we don’t offer enough assistance, students’ struggles are likely to continue, and they may become frustrated and discouraged. They may even shut down. On the other hand, if we provide too much assistance, students may complete their work successfully, but, in the process, we may deny them opportunities to think for themselves and develop as independent thinkers and problem-solvers.

Many education authors have written about the importance of reviewing academic content with students to improve understanding and retention. In fact, an important principle states that when children learn new material during the school day, their understanding and retention of that material increases significantly if they have the opportunity to review the new learning at least one more time that day before heading home.

Every year on Halloween my school holds a big parade in which the younger students march around the playground in their costumes as the older students, staff, and parents cheer them on. The parade begins right after lunch, and there is usually just over an hour remaining in the school day when my students and I return to the classroom. Because the kids are so excited about Halloween, they usually have a difficult time concentrating on academic work as this day winds to a close.

The “Ticket to Lunch” strategy offers a quick, easy way to assess students informally. Though it is called “Ticket to Lunch,” this idea can also be used before recess, at the end of the school day, or any other time when students are about to leave the classroom.