Assessment is a process that helps to measure students' performance, progress and understanding of concepts important to learning how to read and write. Assessments help teachers know if they and their students have achieved an objective stated in a reading / writing lesson plan or unit. If students have not attained the objective, this means that they have not understood the lesson's content. Assessments help teachers identify needs and opportunities for improving student learning. This then enables teachers to plan future lessons and activities to address weakness identified in the assessment or to leverage achievements.