I don't think pre-testing really shows much.
The fact that students can spit back information on a test is like the Calvin and Hobbes comic when Calvin memorizes something for a test and then forgets it.
The question that we must ask is, if we offer students a pre-test a year after the class is over, would they do better, worse, or the same as they did on it the first time? If the answer is the same then we really have done them no good.
We have to help students think rather than simply memorize or learn. Memorization is going to do little good in a new global economy where other nations are teaching students how to think.
To me pretesting is more for Math and Sciences. If my students know how how to do simple division - I can shorten the review and move straight to long division. If they understand the water cycle but are confused about photosynthesis - I can concentrate on photosynthesis.
In reading knowing levels and interests can help me set up temporary reading groups that use high interest books on the children's levels.
History is different. I can see using reading levels to find appropriate reading material. To me pre-testing to opt out of material would be like testing children on a novel and skipping the chapters they "know". My love of history comes from the story that is told from beginning to end.
As a parent, I think pretesting is only useful if the teacher is going to act on the info. If a kid get all the spelling words right on the pretest, and then still has to do all the spelling busywork in class and in homework, it really makes me wonder why the teacher is wasting classtime with the pretest.
Even in with history, there is the possibility a child already know what you are going to cover. Unless you have a plan for the kids who already have mastered the material don't waste more time with a pretest.
Susan Winebrenner, in her book Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom, told the story of a teacher was so proud of her class after they all received wonderful scores on a Reading unit test. After understanding the purpose of pre-testing, the teacher pretested the next unit and realized that 30% of the kids knew the material before she taught it. Hmmm. Pretesting is easiest in math and sometimes seems unneccessary in History or Science. But every kiddo has the right to learn something new every day and your brightest kids learn the least new material each day.
Yes it is easiest to have every kid do the same thing but isn't it best to make sure each kid is learning stuff he doesn't know in a way he learns best. Teaching is hard.
Commenting by HaloScan
