ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the principles of assessment, describes the different types of assessment and provides some guidance about the role of questioning in the primary mathematics classroom. Assessment is the process of collecting and synthesising data about the knowledge, understanding and skills of a person or group. Reporting is the process of documenting and communicating information about students’ knowledge, understanding and skills to parents. A typical approach to assessment could include marking assigned tasks, monitoring homework, diagnostic tasks and interviews, investigations, tests, quizzes and informal observation. Formative assessment involves gathering data during the teaching and learning cycle and allows the teacher to provide students with feedback that guides their subsequent learning. A comprehensive assessment program typically provides a great deal more information than can be communicated in students’ end of term reports. Teachers must therefore make evaluative judgements about student learning based on the range of assessment data that was gathered.
