This book presents the full array of assessment methods available to the classroom teacher in an interesting and engaging format, broadens the preservice and inservice teacher's understanding of related assessment issues, and places assessment in a meaningful context. The text, which was developed for an introductory course in classroom assessment, consists of three major parts. The first is an overview of assessment, the second describes classroom assessment tools, and the last section discusses related assessment issues. Text chapters are designed to be used in flexible ways, and the material is structured to assist the learner in making connections. Other learning aids include a list of key topics preceding each chapter. The following chapters are included: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Assessment Methods"; (3) "Validity and Reliability"; (4) "Teaching and Assessment"; (5) "Structured-Response Items"; (6) "Constructed-Response Questions"; (7) "Observational Methods"; (8) "Performance Assessment"; (9) "Portfolio Assessment"; (10) "Measuring Affective Characteristics"; (11) "Assessing Special Needs"; (12) "Developing a Grading System"; (13) "Interpreting Norm-Referenced Tests"; and (14) "Ethical and Legal Issues in Assessment." An appendix discusses descriptive statistics, and a glossary defines commonly used terms. Each chapter contains references. (Contains 58 tables and 13 figures.) (SLD)