Implementing the “Assessment Standards for School Mathematics”: Using Students' Portfolios to Assess Mathematical Understanding

1994 ◽  
Vol 87 (9) ◽  
pp. 698-701
Author(s):  
Harold Asturias

In 1989, NCTM published the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics, which presented the mathematics profession with a broad view of the important mathematics that should be taught in schools. Two years later, the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics gave teachers the opportunity to address the pedagogical issues inherent in teaching a broad-based, thinking curriculum as described in the curriculum standards. The next link, assessment, though part of the first document, required specific attention. Assessment Standards for School Mathematics, currently in progress, will present the criteria for judging the appropriateness and quality of assessment tools and systems.

1991 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 44-46
Author(s):  
Madeleine J. Long ◽  
Meir Ben-Hur

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989) and Professional Srandards for Teaching Mathematics (1989) endorse the view that assessment should be made an integral part of teaching. Although many of the student outcomes described in the Srandards cannot properly be assessed using paper-and-pencil tests, such tests remain the primary assessment tools in today's classroom.


1994 ◽  
Vol 87 (8) ◽  
pp. 602-606
Author(s):  
Ruth McClintock

Viewing mathematics as communication is the second standard listed for all grade levels in the NCTM's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989). This emphasis underscores the need for nurturing language skills that enable children to translate nonverbal awareness into words. One way to initiate discussion about mathematical concepts is to use physical models and manipulatives. Standard 4 of the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM 1991) addresses the need for tools to enhance discourse. The flexigon is a simple and inexpensive conversation piece that helps students make geometric discoveries and find language to share their ideas.


1995 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 454-458
Author(s):  
Helene J. Sherman ◽  
Thomas Jaeger

The curriculum and evaluation standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989) and the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM 1991) have served as both stimuli for, and responses to, numerous formal and informal programs, conferences, and conversations calling for educational reform and improvement in mathematics teaching. After all the plans are drawn and all the objectives are written, however, reform is most likely to occur and make a lasting difference when teachers are aware of the need for improvement, have a voice in planning it, and derive a real sense of professional satisfaction from implementing the instructional changes.


1995 ◽  
Vol 88 (8) ◽  
pp. 694-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian R. Hirsch ◽  
Arthur F. Coxford ◽  
James T. Fey ◽  
Harold L. Schoen

Current policy reports addressing mathematics education in American schools, such as Everybody Counts (NRC 1989), Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989), Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM 1991), and Assessment Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1995), call for sweeping reform in curricular, instructional, and assessment practices. Implementing the proposed reforms poses new opportunities and challenges for school districts, mathematics departments, and classroom teachers.


1997 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-205
Author(s):  
Deborah E. Schifter ◽  
Deborah Carey O'Brien

Since the publication of the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989) and the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM 1991). such phrases as “mathematics should be taught for understanding.” “teachers should facilitate the construction of mathematical concepts,” and “classrooms should be student centered” have become identified with a reformed mathematics pedagogy.


1992 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 466-470
Author(s):  
Steven J. Leinwand

For many of us, the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM 1991) represents a much scarier and much more intimidating vision of school mathematics than its predecessor, the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989). Accordingly, implementing the teaching standards will require different strategies from those being used or proposed to implement the curriculum standards.


1994 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-193
Author(s):  
Joan Ferrini-Mundy ◽  
Loren Johnson ◽  
James R. Smart

NCTM's Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989) and its Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (1991) lend possible direction and meaning to the reform effort in mathematics education that is sweeping the country. The documents have been widely disseminated and discussed, and anecdotal evidence indicates that teachers of mathematics are seeking ways to enact the ideas contained in the standards documents. These documents are also inspiring the development of standards in other disciplines. But a number of questions are being raised as schools, districts, states, and provinces attempt to incorporate these Standards in changing their curriculum and pedagogy.


1995 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-7
Author(s):  
Larry E. Askins

As mathematics teachers, we are eager for an optimistic view of what our classrooms can become during this decade and beyond. I believe that NCTM's Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (1991) and Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (1989) present a clear vision for making mathematics education successful in the 1990s. However, the documents mean nothing if individual teachers fail to take deliberate steps toward realizing that vision.


1992 ◽  
Vol 85 (8) ◽  
pp. 677-679
Author(s):  
Virginia Stallings-Roberts

The Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989) and the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM 1991) advocate an array of alternative-assessment strategies that encourage modification of teachers' practices in measuring students' performance. Unfortunately, many teachers must operate within the constraints of the system under which they serve. Teachers feel bound to traditional testing by virtue of the adopted percent procedure established by their schools and simply because grading has been done in the traditional manner for years.


1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-9
Author(s):  
James V. Bruni

NCTM's development of the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989) and the recent companion document, Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (NCTM 1991), is an extraordinary achievement. At a time when many agree that we urgently need change in mathematics education, these sets of standards project an exciting vision of what mathematics learning can be and how all students can develop “mathematical power.” They establish a broad framework to guide reform efforts and challenge everyone interested in the quality of school mathematics programs to work collaboratively to use them as a basis for change. How will we meet this challenge? The Editorial Panel believes that translating that vision into reality at the elementary school level will be possible only if elementary school teachers are involved in taking leadership roles as agents of change.


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