This is the second edition of a highly successful book, previously titled Better Instruction Through Assessment: What Your Students Are Trying to Tell You. The revision was undertaken to respond to the No Child Left Behind legislation, which has changed the way we must look at students' achievement data. This book shows you how to: - get the most out of your state's high stakes standardized tests - use test results to make the right decisions about how to teach the students in your class - avoid becoming a victim of accountability systems - infuse "test savvy" into everyday instruction.It covers a wide variety of types of assessments, from classroom-based, teacher created tests to state-mandated, high stakes standardized tests, both selected response and performance assessment. Unlike traditional "textbooks," this book was written specifically for practicing teachers and administrators. It contains real-world examples which demonstrate the role of assessment in a teacher's daily work. It is filled with actual student responses and scenarios based on real life situations faced by teachers.