A Teacher's Worst Nightmare: Assessment

I think the simple ten letter word assessment is the single cause of panic when heard in a crowd of teachers. I personally feel that assessment is a double sided aspect of the education system with both positives and negatives. I feel that assessment provides data that can be examined and clearly "assessed;" basically, it allows teachers to easily be able to gauge student's learning. The negatives are the pressure it places on both students and teachers and the instructional time it wastes. I don't ever remember having too much anxiety about testing, but I do know lots of people that have and continue to have difficulites with assessment. I think that as a teacher it is important to think outside the box when it comes to assessment and "test" our students in ways that are quick easy and off the beaten path. If only assessment could turn into daydreams rather than nightmares.