How can students knock the top off any test? That's one of the 14 key questions that Dr. Marcia L. Tate, a highly regarded assessment authority, answers in Formative Assessment in a Brain-Compatible Classroom: How Do We Really Know They're Learning? Although teachers tend to avoid types of assessments that are difficult to grade, these assessments are often the only way to know how well certain students are learning. Tate describes the theories behind various assessment types and addresses specific ways to create brain-compatible learning environments that foster high achievement. Throughout the book, she guides educators in identifying where to begin in the formative assessment process and how to proceed as they develop expertise in:Writing quality selected- and constructed-response test itemsBuilding effective questioning that shows student learningUnderstanding what students know before, during, and after lessonsUsing checklists and rubrics to assess student learningLeveraging group work, peer-assessment and self-assessmentThe book concludes with an explanation of four ways educators can ensure that students succeed in any assessment opportunity. Educators reading it will be able to maximize the use of assessment, empowering all their students to succeed.