What Teachers Need to Know About Assessment

Lawrence M. Rudner and William D. Schafer, eds

paperback 145 pages, Published by NEA (2002), 2074-X-00-NET

Going beyond the basic information on high-stakes testing and test scoring, this book also includes discussions on classroom assessment. Chapters cover topics such as writing and scoring classroom tests, developing other assessment tools, and helping students become better test takers The National Education Association  published the print version as part of their Student Assessment Series. ERIC/AE published this on-line version [pdf, 300K] .   The goal of both organizations is to encourage thoughtful discussion. If you like any portion of this book, feel free to photocopy that portion from the print version or print that section from the on-line version.

Copies of the book may be purchased from the

NEA Professional Library Distribution Center 
P.O. Box 2035
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701-2035
1-800-229-4200

The non-member price is $12.95 per copy (order)

The NEA member price is $10.95 (order)

Multiple copy discounts are available. 

 

Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction		3
Fundamental Concepts Common to All Assessments		5
	Fundamental Assessment Principles for Teachers and School Administrators	6
	Traditional and Modern Concepts of Validity	12
	Reliability	16
	Norm- and Criterion-Referenced Testing	21
	Some Measurement Concepts	26
	Using State Standards and Assessments to Improve Instruction	39
	Preparing Students To Take Standardized Achievement Tests	46
	The Politics of National Testing	49
Essential Concepts for Classroom Assessment		56
	Writing Multiple-Choice Test Items	57
	More Multiple-choice Item Writing Do's And Don'ts	61
	Implementing Performance Assessment in the Classroom	65
	Scoring Rubrics: What, When and How?	70
	Scoring Rubric Development: Validity and Reliability	77
	Classroom Questions	87
	Teacher Comments on Report Cards	91
Essential Skills for Students		94
	Improving the Quality of Student Notes	95
	Helping Children Master the Tricks and Avoid the Traps of Standardized Tests	99
	Making the A: How To Study for Tests	103

Contributors
	Linda A. Bond Carol Boston Amy Brualdi Lucy Calkins Robert B. Frary Jerard Kehoe Jon A. Leydens Diane Loulou James McMillian	William A. Mehrens Kate Montgomery Barbara M Moskal Bonnie Potts Lawrence M. Rudner Donna Santman William D. Schafer Christopher Tienken Michael Wilson