Written in a straightforward and conversational manner, this book integrates assessment and instruction to provide educators with an understanding of when to use different techniques to optimize student learning. The emphasis is on real-world applications, taken from the author's experiences of student assessment using mainstream assessment principles. The subject matter in each chapter is amplified frequently with examples from a broad range of educational settings as diverse as classroom teaching, school administration, school counseling, special education, and related special services for students with special needs.