Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Go Back                 Case Posted on October 11, 2015 8:21 pm Add to Favorites yHamyN Reps: 95 Are Pop Quizzes Punishment? Every time you ask your students a question during class, they just look at you as if you are talking about something they've never heard of before, even though you discussed that very topic in class last week. This is so frustrating for you that you are tempted to start giving pop quizzes just to punish the students for not paying attention. Is this the right method to use? Are pop quizzes considered punishment? What other method might you suggest for teachers who struggle with this issue?                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.                 Solution 1 Posted October 12, 2015 4:03 am ysaZan Reps: 76 I would tell students that the quizzes are necessary in order for you to assess understanding since so many students are not contributing to class discussion. Tell them that the frequency of pop quizzes, or comprehension checks, will lessen once you are able to assess understanding through discussion. Maybe that will encourage more classroom responses. When I assign novel chapters for my students to read, I often have pop quizzes because the possibility of a quiz is the only thing that motivates some students to read. If the students do not read, then discussion is completely teacher-centered, which is not what I am looking for. Votes: +27 / -6 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution meXyHy Reps: 158 If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this. I would also explain to students that participating in a lucrative discussion as a whole will prevent pop quizes.   Posted on: October 14, 2015 1:25 pm Kathy Allen Reps: 200 I think that this is a good option.   Posted on: February 23, 2018 10:15 pm Xetuzu Reps: 206 I think your solution is a good way to use pop quizzes!   Posted on: March 2, 2021 12:08 am Add a Comment                 Solution 2 Posted October 14, 2015 5:58 pm aHeRaJ Reps: 128 In this situation, pop quizzes are kind of like a gotcha thing. The purpose of them is to see what the student's know but in this case, I think you already know which students know the information and which don't. If this situation was me I would reward the students that knew the answers heavily. Think about your teaching strategies though. When you taught this information, was it fun and hands-on? Was it something you would have remembered if you had learned it in professional learning? If the kids are not retaining the information, try to deliver it in a different way. Search BEST PRACTICES for TEACHERS and a lot of strategies will come up. Votes: +23 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Xetuzu Reps: 206 This is a different approach that I really like!   Posted on: March 2, 2021 12:08 am MeMuXu Reps: 203 I liked how your solution switched the focus from students not focusing, to the students who are focusing.   Posted on: June 29, 2021 6:34 pm Add a Comment                 Solution 3 Posted October 11, 2015 11:38 pm gyteMe Reps: 90 Pop quizzes aren't necessarily a punishment but a way of reflecting what has been taught and getting a clear understanding if your students retained the information well. As a teacher it helps you to determine whether or not you should continue with the lesson by reviewing or if you should move on to the next lesson because everyone in the class is proficient. If explained to the students this way, maybe there wouldn't be many hard feelings when the words "Pop Quiz" are mentioned. Votes: +9 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 4 Posted October 13, 2015 12:47 am uzyHeJ Reps: 100 I would change my instruction and activities to better engage my students before implementing pop quizzes. Votes: +8 / -3 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 5 Posted October 18, 2015 1:18 pm PyNaTy Reps: 103 Pop quizzes are not punishment if used correctly; it would help a teacher assess what the student has retained in that particular subject. The pop quiz would be over the same materials that we have gone over and let them know that it is to ready them for the upcoming unit test. I would use this as a strategy to keep them on task. Votes: +5 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 6 Posted October 19, 2015 12:50 am uGaLaz Reps: 77 Pop quizzes are not punishment. I would not use them as a grade in the grade book, though. I would use the information from the pop quizzes as formative data to create differentiation for my students. After a few differentiation activities they will start to realize that they are bored or in a lower group than what they actually understand. Remind them that their groups are based on the pop quiz data and they will start performing better because they want to be in higher enrichment groups if they actually do know the information. Then you can see who is really struggling and address them with meaningful remediation. Votes: +3 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 7 Posted March 3, 2016 3:37 am uQaMeV Reps: 200 pop quizzes are not the answer to punish students. They are an effective tool to use in order to determine if the student is retaining any of the information that you are conveying to them, however if you want to punish a student for not paying attention you should simply call upon them every time they are becoming a distraction in the class. Ask them questions about the material that you are teaching and put them on display in front of their peers and this is sure to make them think twice about being a distraction. Votes: +2 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 8 Posted October 18, 2015 7:22 pm Dan G Reps: 190 I don't think pop quizzes are considered a punishment at all. I was and still am a student and recently determined that pop quizzes are a great tool. They can inform teachers if their students are retaining information from lessons. It is important to realize that not all pop quizzes test on the information that students were supposed to study at home. Most of the time pop quizzes test on information learned in class. This is a great way for a teacher to see how efficient their lesson was. Teachers who don't like pop quizzes because they feel that its punishment can just ask their class pop quiz questions aloud as and determine by the answers to the questions if their lesson was efficient and stuck with the students. Votes: +2 / -2 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 9 Posted February 27, 2016 8:21 pm yDaTes Reps: 129 Rather than using pop quizzes as a punishment try giving an non-graded review assessment. I currently teach 2nd grade math. Each Friday I give a quick review sheet with 5 question. The students, parent, and teachers are made aware of what the child has mastered and what they are retaining. It helps me revise my lessons and see what I need to further review with my class. They are aware when the "quiz" is going to occur, but they do not know the exact content. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 10 Posted February 29, 2016 2:15 am uJasuX Reps: 203 There is nothing wrong with quizzes; however, it is also important to reflect and decide if there are ways to get your students more engaged in the classroom. Votes: +1 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 11 Posted October 15, 2015 3:53 pm jonathan lindsey Reps: 78 Pop quizzes are not punishment, or at least they should not be seen as that. The pop quizzes I give in my construction class enable me check for understanding, or sometimes it allows me to check to make sure my students are staying on task. It also encourages them to participate, because they know there will be a pop quiz over the material. I do not let my students participate in lab activities if they do not pass their quizzes, so they typically take them serious. Votes: +1 / -3 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Xetuzu Reps: 206 I think it’s interesting how you incorporate pop quizzes into the hands on aspect of your class!   Posted on: March 2, 2021 12:09 am Add a Comment                 Solution 12 Posted October 18, 2015 9:04 pm qevaSe Reps: 111 I do not consider pop quizzes as punishment. I think they can be used as ways to inform the teacher of whether students are learning. I do not think bad grades from pop quizzes will motivate students in any way. If they are failing them then naturally they will be turned off from school altogether. I do not think that is the goal of any educator. I would give students the opportunity to show what they know but not with the mindset of punishment. Votes: +1 / -4 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 13 Posted July 10, 2016 9:58 pm kelsey karr Reps: 105 Maybe you can post a review the day before pop quizzes in a fun and interactive form that your students will respond well with. And then your students will retain the information better when it comes to the pop quiz. Also, maybe instead of punishment have the students receive extra points or such since you have so many that are not receiving credit. This will make the students want to pay attention and receive credit during this time. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 14 Posted October 10, 2016 7:06 pm ZaBuBy Reps: 200 NO. I think giving pop-quizzes helps students pay more attention and gives the an Idea of how they are understanding the material. Also if they goof-off and don't pay attention, they will not do good on a popquiz and then hopefully they learn from their mistake and pay attention next time. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 15 Posted February 24, 2017 6:09 pm gyVyPe Reps: 250 I do not think that pop quizzes are too much of a punishment. I think it gives students a wake up call to be more attentive and motivated to try in your class. I do not suggest to do them all the time but it may start to show who all is actually obtaining the information given in class. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 16 Posted October 7, 2018 10:13 pm ZuLeVe Reps: 101 I think pop quizzes are just a good way to assess what students are learning from class. Unless they are presented as a punishment, pop quizzes are just another form of assessment. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 17 Posted April 18, 2022 6:49 pm byseLu Reps: 103 I believe that the pop quiz could be used as an example that students should be paying attention. However, it should be used more as a warning. If students do not do well, do not give them all bad grades. Warn them that the next one will be graded. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 18 Posted April 18, 2022 10:41 pm byseLu Reps: 103 A possible solution is to make the lessons more interactive so that key points are easier to commit to memory and understand. You can also remind students that they should be taking notes in class so they have the information easily accessible even if they can't remember it. Pop quizzes shouldn't be used as punishment ,but rather to check understanding of a given topic. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 19 Posted April 25, 2022 6:39 pm sanuRa Reps: 201 I think that this is wrong because punishment is not helpful to learning. I think a good idea would be to use variation in how you present content to students. To capture most students' attention, learning is usually fun and engaging. When students compete for some reason I have noticed that they are way more driven and motivated. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 20 Posted April 2, 2023 11:25 pm atyraQ Reps: 203 I don’t believe that these pop quizzes are punishments. I would recommend they should be worth less points or maybe rewarded instead of graded. Pop quizzes are good for seeing if your students are comprehending instruction, I highly recommend they stay in your lesson planning. Votes: +0 / -0 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Solution 21 Posted March 7, 2016 4:22 am beSade Reps: 104 Just because I hated pop quizzes in high school, I would never give a pop quiz. Instead, I would give out numerous 10 question quizzes throughout the year with the student's knowledge, of course. And then I would give maybe two big tests during the school year. That way I can still make sure they are up-to-date with the information they need to know and they aren't falling behind. Votes: +0 / -2 This Solution Is Useful   This Solution Is Not Useful   Comments posted for this solution Add a Comment                 Submit a Possible Solution Please read response(s) below (if any) before posting your solution.