Assessments To Use When Teaching Math in the Primary Grades

Assessments to use when teaching math should be varied. We are going to talk assessments here but if you are looking for information on how to teach primary math, go to Teaching Math in Primary Grades.

Just as we will have different learning styles in the classroom, we will see different ways in which students will express and show their learning. Unfortunately, many teachers are required to just use standardized testing to assess their students (for their district), but there are many other ways to get a more accurate gauge as to where our students are at.

While this list is not exhaustive, these will provide you with a lot of information to report on student learning and inform parents. This list is also compatible to assess other subject areas!

Tools to Use for Assessments

1. Observational Checklists

This can be a game changer for reporting. I’ve had times where I was writing report cards and actually blanked out on student progress for a couple kids. I had no observational checklists! The purpose of these checklists is to monitor, during an activity, behaviours and skills shown by the student. When having parent/teacher meetings, I can pull one of these out and give specifics to parents.

With math, I have observational checklists for counting, sorting, patterning, problem solving, working independently, working with a partner, working with others, math units I’m covering, etc. Yes, it is a few papers but I can look at a class observation list and easily see who I haven’t assessed.

2. Anecdotal Comments

These are your notes on a student’s progress. I use to put them on sticky notes (don’t recommend), then switched to a piece of paper of boxes with each student’s name (this works better). I also have 3×5 cards for each student taped into a file folder.

I sometimes do all of them, sometimes I do one of them. As I’m having a teaching partner this year, we will mainly use the folder, but the paper with boxes is on my clipart.

What do you write about in your anecdotal comments? This goes beyond the observational checklist

• comment on how they tackle a math question/problem
• things they say/ask during class time
• how they respond to feedback
• how they are making good use of their time

There are probably a few more but the bottom line is that you are being mindful to jot down notes as students are working. We often say we’ll write it down later but sadly, we forget.

3. Student Learning/Performance Outcomes

This is student work, assignments, oral discussions, math talks, math projects, etc. Some of it can be in anecdotal comments or observational checklist formats. It is the summary.

“During our geometry unit, Bob demonstrated proficiency with …

Many teachers will use these as their report card comments usually because this is what parents want to hear/read. At the end of the day parents are asking, does my child know how to read? Can they add? Can they make a repeating pattern? Are they listening?

4. Math Journals

I enjoy math journals but I don’t do them enough. I use to think kindergarten/grade one students couldn’t do them because of the requirement to read and write, but I find that journal activities work best when a lot of modeling and scaffolding are done. Do them together as a class for a while before giving them as independent work or as math centers.

You can read more about math journals by clicking the link. But I use, half of an exercise book or one of the smaller notebooks (no coils!).

Math journals are a tool for providing students with the opportunity to show their thinking using drawings, simple writing. Some teachers ask students to reflect upon their thoughts. It is a great way to assess understanding.

5. One-on-One Interviews

Though this type of assessment is one of the best, it is often the most time consuming and tricky ones to do (especially if you have a class that cannot work/play independently). In September, when I want to assess letter sounds one on one, I am constantly interrupted by little ones. By November, it gets better.

During an interview, you can ask students to explain their thinking, recall information, share personal stuff. I have little math games that are quick and yet can help me see how well they count, subitize, add/subt. Create a template for yourself for each term, or each month (depending on what your school requires).

6. Games and Puzzles

As mentioned above, using math-related games and/or puzzles are great to assess skills like counting, pattern recognition, or spatial awareness. I use to find games in the teacher store, Scholastics, etc. Now, I learn from colleagues. For example, do you know the card game “war”? This game can be used to assess number sense. There is a free ten frame war cards set available on Teachers Pay Teachers to get you started.

What is great about games, it that students do not realize they are being assessed, so it’s low-pressure and engaging.

7. Other Assessment Activities to Use

As this blog post is getting long, I’ll just quickly list a few other activities that can be used as assessments:

• video, songs
• oral discussions, lots of dialogue
• task cards, hands-on activities
• self checking activities (such as Boom Cards)
• projects
• self-reflections
• yes, even short worksheets can be used for primary students

As you can see, there are several assessments to use, to assess and determine student learning and progress. The bottom line is “are your students learning and how are they learning?”. Create a daily assessment system for yourself so that you can manage the needs of your school district, admin, and parents.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Happy Teaching!

Lori-Anne