How do you use the Evaluations product? Do you allow the students to use their notes? My children complained that the questions were too hard last year, so I gave in and let them use their notes. This year, I'm thinking I will 'crack down harder' on them and make them closed-note. Other times I have allowed them to use their notes for the essay only, after I have graded the rest of the exam. What do you do???

Karen

Hi Karen,
For us, this varies from week-to-week. If we've had a really busy week and had to have a short and sweet discussion, then I let it be open-book. Sometimes I know this ahead of time, and sometimes not. If I think we will have adequate time in a given week, I say "Be prepared for a quiz on Friday; you will not be able to use your notes."

If I've decided mid-week, for whatever reason, to make it a closed book quiz, I don't tell him until Friday morning. I still want him to *try* to study if there is time at all.

Just how we do it...

Karen
I have not allowed my student to do quizzes open book but she also has had trouble with them. I realized I had to find a way to narrow down the info I gave her so she could focus on what to study.

I began to make sure she knew what would be on the quiz and that has helped a lot. During discussion time I will write notes on our white board saying to her, you might see this on a quiz. (I have reviewed the quiz before hand and marked up my teacher's notes with the answers to quiz questions so I know what's to "teach" her). If we are unable to get to everything I give her a study guide directing her as to what she needs to review.

I don't give the actual questions or specific answers and my class time and/or study guide is broader than the quiz, but if she is going to come across a question I make sure she got the info and knows that it is important tnat she may be tested on it.

I took this from a TOG recommendation. It has made a big difference in her study time and helped her to be more prepared. It has also given her more confidence. I discovered her biggest challenge was knowing WHAT to study so now I make sure she knows.

Lisa in AZ