Teachers - Formative Assessment - Informal Assessment of Students' Mathematical Dispositions

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While there can be overlap between some types of formative and summative assessments, and while there are both informal and formal means to assess students, in this article, I will primarily offer suggestions for informal, formative assessment for the mathematics classroom, particularly in the third of the three categories suggested by Clarke & Wilson:

1. The student's mathematical content knowledge.
2. The student's mathematical processes, such as reasoning, communicating, problem solving, and making connections.
3. The student's mathematical disposition, such as attitudes, persistence, confidence, and cooperative skills.

Disposition is defined as "one's usual mood; temperament, a habitual inclination, tendency." With teenagers, it is not always easy to determine their disposition or temperament regarding anything, including mathematics. Too often, if their reference group has decided that "school is not cool," then it is mandatory that they use all their body language and facial expressions (and sometimes words) to indicate their disdain for our beloved subject. We mustn't accept this at face value (no pun intended). The ideas in this article will allow you to determine your students' mathematical dispositions (sometimes without their knowing it!).

The first idea I want to offer came about almost by a fluke. Another teacher and I were creating an assessment instrument for some research we were conducting. We had about half a page left on this eight-page instrument - and didn't want to waste the paper - so we decided to pose the prompt shown below. It turned out to be the best question of the whole assessment! Consider using this prompt at the beginning of the year - and then several other times throughout the school year to get a sense of the changes taking place.

As a math student in this class, I rate myself on the following scale (put an X on the scale where you rate yourself). 1 = Probably the worst in the class; 5/6 = Not too bad; not too good; 10 = Totally awesome! Maybe the best in the school

The reason I rated myself as a/an ____ on the scale above is because:

I have found that adolescent students are willing and able to be more truthful when asked to write than when asked to share their thoughts publicly. For this reason, I use learning logs as often as possible to learn about students' dispositions toward mathematics. The term "learning log" is not one that I originated, but it is one that fits my philosophy of how writing looks in the mathematics classroom. The first part of the phrase "learning log" states the purpose of the writing: learning. The second part of the phrase "learning log" connotes a particular format, that is, running commentary. A log is not meant to be a polished piece of writing, taken through draft after draft. Commander and Smith (1996) define the purpose of learning logs as "reflections on specific cognitive aspects of learning.... (emphasizing) the connection or personal engagement with academic skills and techniques" (p. 447).

Using learning logs provides you with a variety of ways to assess students' attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes about mathematics. The following are some writing prompts I've found useful:

• What does a mathematician look like?
• My ability to do math is...
• When I am in math class, I feel...
• Mathematics has good points and bad points. Here's what I mean...
• I study, I pay attention, I take notes, I read my math book, but I still don't get math. True or False? Explain your answer.

Students' answers to questions such as these provide insight to the teacher as s/he plans instruction. Ignoring students' dispositions towards mathematics is done at teachers' - and students' - peril.

It's not in anyone's best interest to think that formative assessment is something that is 'added on' to our already full curriculum. Formative assessment is part of good teaching. There should be a seamlessness between instruction and assessment. Keep in mind that the word "formative" comes from the Latin word meaning "shape or form." Formative assessment has as its purpose to shape upcoming instruction. Use and/or modify the ideas offered in this article. You will find that your instruction is more targeted and more effective. Then, design more ideas of your own - and share them with as many other teachers as possible.

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