How hard was the Specialized High School Test?

Question for high school teachers: Do you prepare your students for a test and if so how?

• I go to a private Christian high school and before a test, my teacher will read six or seven questions off the test to us as a review. Is this the best way to learn or should I ...show more

• Answer:

  This is called: "Teaching to the test" and I don't believe it is the best way for a student to be assessed. There are many ways to assess a students' knowledge of the content and skills you teach however, the old rule of thumb has always been that you 'test' the students with pencil and paper. I have reviewed my students from notes they have taken about a subject matter and I might comment on what is important to keep in mind come test day. I always have to keep in mind the STATE STANDARDS - this is what schools now lend themselves to. What the state says the students should have learned in each grade level. There are grade level examples of 'how' to get that information to the student and it's up to the teacher. In my school district - there are 7 levels of Language information that my 8th graders must have knowledge on and that includes - grammar, reading, writing, logic, media, research, and speaking and listening. I teach the content and skills from each of these categories within 4 quarters. It is a lot - I'm here to tell you - and sometimes, we never get it all done - but I do at least, have a guide (the standards) and I can never go wrong. Teaching all of this in a differentiated way, a way that includes even resource students is the challenging part - but I get it all done. I allow my students to use research/resource through the computer to play grammar games, etc., writing games and skills, etc in order to bring diversity to the teaching. Inevitably, I still have to give the test using a variety( true/false, multiple choice, fill in the blank, essay) type questions. I am also luck to have at my school other forms of testing whereby the students can use a 'clicker' to read the question from a large overhead screen, and then 'click' on the answer they believe to be correct. It's different and challenging. Preparing students for a test always includes making sure they have knowledge of the skills and content that is important. I don't always like 'teaching to the test' but it is done all over the world.