The central goal of mathematics assessment in Spring Branch is to support the continued learning of every student. Therefore, the main purpose of the Mathematics Performance Assessments is to assist the teacher in making wise instructional decisions. The assessments are not to be used to assign grades for the grade book.

These assessment tasks, one for each strand, should offer the teacher evidence of a student's mathematical knowledge, use of strategies, and ability to communicate mathematically over time. This evidence then can be used to help the teacher and the student set specific goals and plans of action. If necessary, students can be reassessed using the same instrument at another point in time.

A scoring rubric has been developed to assist the teacher in determining each student's ability to perform in three distinct areas or dimensions:

• mathematical knowledge
• mathematical strategie
• mathematical communication

This four point rubric is an analytic rubric because it clearly distinguishes major concepts, skills, and knowledge students must develop to effectively apply mathematics in their daily lives. Students should be informed on each of the dimensions to be assessed and clearly understand what each descriptor means. For example, it is essential that students understand that the "Mathematical Communication" descriptors will be used to score their work. Modeling and allowing students to experiment with the dimensions are crucial before the rubric is used to assess each strand.

The teacher derives separate scores from each dimension of the rubric allowing for effective diagnosis of strengths and weaknesses. The three scores are recorded on the Mathematics Performance Assessment Scoring Record for each student. This record is attached to the front of the child's six assessments and serves as a cumulative picture of the student's performance that year. The Record and six assessments are placed in the District permanent math folder at the end of the school year.

A second rubric has been designed to assist the student in self-evaluation entitled Student Rubric for Mathematics. This rubric can be used for a variety of purposes: goal setting by teacher and student together, peer coaching, product evaluation by a group of students, and parent/student critiquing of work.

The Spring Branch Mathematics Performance Assessments and rubrics described above are designed to offer the teacher a much clearer picture of student understandings and more closely link assessment to daily instructional decision making. They offer the student opportunities to "show what they know" in more comprehensive ways. They offer the parent a more detailed description of their child's mathematical skills and knowledge.