Reviews the purposes of assessment, and provides a rationale for the development of alternative forms for measuring student achievement.

• Provides detailed information on · the functions of assessment; · how to construct, administer, and interpret the results of teacher-developed assessment techniques; and · how to interpret the results of externally developed instruments such as standardized tests. • Both traditional and newer, alternative assessment techniques are covered. • Advantages and disadvantages of each assessment technique are discussed. • A companion website helps both instructors and students obtain additional information on topics of special interest to them. • Numerous examples of the principles and procedures make it easy for students to understand the material. • The highly practical nature of this book stems from the focus on how assessment intertwines with other everyday activities in classrooms. • Measurement theory and computational procedures that are unlikely to be used by classroom teachers are de-emphasized, producing a textbook that provides comprehensive coverage without being unnecessarily technical.

Reviews the purposes of assessment, and provides a rationale for the development of alternative forms for measuring student achievement.

This guide is designed to make the assessment process easier and more effective by helping teachers create their own assessment, plan and implement current curriculum, use alternative methods of assessment, evaluate program effectiveness and design rubrics fro each assessment task.

Achievement assessment has undergone a major shift, from what some call a `culture of testing' to a `culture of assessment'. Nowadays, a strong emphasis is placed on the integration of assessment and instruction, on assessing processes rather than just products, and on evaluating individual progress relative to each student's starting point. This book addresses assessment issues in light of the present state of affairs. The first part discusses new alternatives in the assessment of achievement in various subject areas, focusing on agenda, practice, impact and evaluation of the assessment. The second part deals with issues related to assessment of the learning process, specifically: questions concerning the assessment of individual differences in prior knowledge, learning skills and strategies.

For many teachers of English language learners, the field of assessment is foreign territory. Assessment has its own culture, traditions, and terminology. This training guide is intended to help classroom teachers become more comfortable creating and using assessments. A Practical Guide to Assessing English Language Learners provides helpful insights into the practice and terminology of assessment. The text focuses on providing the cornerstones of good assessments—usefulness, validity, reliability, practicality, washback, authenticity, transparency, and security—and techniques for testing. It devotes a chapter to the assessment of each of the four main skill areas (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), and also covers placement testing, such as using TOEFL® and MELAB, diagnostic testing, evaluation, and instructional decision-making with regard to testing. Tips to improve students’ test-taking strategies are offered, and each chapter ends with a helpful list of Ten Things to Remember, as well as informative case studies featuring two teachers and their assessment decisions. Incorporating its own principles, A Practical Guide to Assessing English Language Learners opens with a short quiz for the reader called Are You Testwise? that quickly determines how each teacher will benefit from this indispensable guide.

Offers a practical guide for improving schools dramatically that will enable all students from all backgrounds to achieve at high levels. Includes assessment forms, an index, and a DVD.