A Joint Vision for Classroom Assessment

Abstract

The NCTM's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics proposes a vision for assessment in the mathematics classroom that would “help teachers better understand what students know and make meaningful instructional decisions” (NCTM 1989, 189). For assessment to be truly aligned with the mathematics curriculum, teachers would give more emphasis to taking a holistic view of mathematics—using multiple assessment methods, including written, oral, and performance formats, and incorporating calculators, computers, and manipulatives as part of assessment. Thus, mathematics teachers would be empowered to trust their own abilities and judgments in the area of mathematics assessment (Clarke, Clarke, and Lovitt 1990; Cooney and Badger 1990; Schoen 1989; Webb and Briars 1990).