Introduce writing in a mathematics class slowly and progressively. Ask students to answer open-ended questions that reflect their feelings about a mathematics lesson. Encourage students to write down what they have learned and discovered, and the difficulties they have faced in solving certain math problems.
Ask students to write about a familiar mathematical idea. Let them explain what a certain concepts, such as addition and subtraction, mean to them. Ask them to explain what is involved in solving an addition problem, and ask all of the students in a classroom to describe the same concept so as to simplify the assessment.
Move on to more complex problems. Encourage students to write about complex mathematical concepts such as the area of a triangle. Ask them to describe the problem, give an answer and explain the processes in writing. Evaluate students' understanding on the basis of how well they explain a problem and how effectively they arrive at an answer.
Use concept maps to assess whether a student has a clear understanding of a concept, the elements involved and the relationships among different concepts. Ensure that the student is able to identify the major problem first. Assess whether the student has correctly derived the important secondary concepts related to the main concept.
Assess how well a student has developed relationships between the different mathematical concepts. Related concepts are linked with an arrow and a label explaining the relationship. Ensure that concepts are arranged hierarchically, from the most general concepts at the top of the map to the most specific at the bottom.
Evaluate the flow of the concepts from the top of the map to the bottom. Consider that there is no wrong or right concept map, but a logical arrangement of the concept and their relationship will show you that a student has understood a topic.