| Assessment should support the learning of
important mathematics and furnish useful information to both teachers and
students. |
Assessment should be
more than merely a test at the end of instruction to gauge learning. It should
be an integral part of instruction that guides teachers and enhances students'
learning.
Teachers should be
continually gathering information about their students through questions,
interviews, writing tasks, and other means. They can then make appropriate
decisions about such matters as reviewing material, reteaching a difficult
concept, or providing something more or different for students who are
struggling or need enrichment.
To be consistent with
the Learning Principle, assessments should focus on understanding as well as
procedural skills. Because different students show what they know and can do in
different ways, assessments should also be done in multiple ways, and teachers
should look for a convergence of evidence from different sources.
Teachers must ensure
that all students are given an opportunity to demonstrate their mathematics
learning. For example, teachers should use communication-enhancing and bilingual
techniques to support students who are learning English.