What is Preassessment?

Its a snapshot of where your students are.

Entry level knowledge of what your students bring.

Helps measure student readiness and identify student

interest in the learning outcome.
Turner (2014)

Preassessment is:
An accurate picture of what your students

can do

A tool for teachers to teach and plan effective

instruction.
A tool to help identify learning outcomes prior to
teaching
A realistic picture of what students have gained
from teaching new concepts or skills
McNair (2004)

Who benefits

Use

from

preassessments to:

preassessment:
All grade levels

Modify instruction
Help students build

All ability levels

connecting

Students with

knowledge

disabilities
Teachers

Refine skills
Apply
understanding of

key concepts
Use Preassessment to answer the following:

Turner (2014)

What are the students current levels of knowledge about this

topic/unit?
What are the students misconceptions about this topic/unit?
Do all students have the foundational skills and knowledge needed
for this topic/unit?
Have some students mastered all or some of the topic/unit goals?
What student interests are related to the topic/unit?
(2014)
Ways to Preassess: Use one that fits your ability Turner
group

Drawings
Labeling models
Journal Entries
Individual interviews
Verbal responses to questions
Comparing and contrasting activities
Constructions or physical props
References:
Written Responses to a set of questions
Group Discussion

Levy, Holli (2008) Meeting the needs of all students through differentiated instruction: Helping every child
McNair (2004)
reach and exceed standards. Clearing House. 81(4) pp 161-164
McNair, S. (2004) A is for assessment. Science and Children. 42(1) pp 24-27
Turner, S. (2014) Creating an assessment-centered classroom: Five essential assessment strategies to