Easy Informal Place Value Assessments You Can Use Every Day in K-2

You know that feeling when you finish a place value lesson and think, “I think they get it… but I’m not totally sure”? Maybe students can chant tens and ones aloud during the lesson, but when it’s time to work independently, something doesn’t quite line up. Formal place value assessments eventually give you answers, but by the time you get there, weeks have passed, and gaps have grown. You know the struggle!

That’s where informal assessment comes in! When place value practice is built into your daily routine, you don’t have to wait for a test to know who understands and who needs more support. Those quick, consistent activities give you daily insight into student thinking without adding more planning or grading to your plate. Come along to see just how easy this can be!

Why Informal Place Value Assessment Matters in K-2

Place value is one of those concepts that builds slowly. Students don’t master it in one lesson or even one unit. They need repeated exposure, chances to explain their thinking, and opportunities to make mistakes in a low-pressure way. 

In my room, this is something we practice each and every day. And since we are already working on this skill daily, I decided the best way to help catch misunderstandings early was with informal assessments that can be easily done while we work. 

In other words, I wanted an option that didn't add anything new to my plate, but also gave me the information I needed. This is how Daily Place Value Practice Pages were born! They're the practice my kids need and the look I was seeking in order to see who understands, and who needs more help. All in one, low-prep package!

The best part is that using these pages for informal assessment doesn’t feel like a test. It feels like normal math practice, which keeps anxiety low and engagement high. 

Using Informal Place Value Assessments as Daily Morning Work 

Here's a quick look at how this works in the classroom. Each day, the kids come in, unpack their bags, and sit down to their Daily Place Value Practice Worksheet. 

I have a set of these for each month of the year that builds upon the last month's topics. The daily numbers are not consecutive because the children often figure out the pattern, but each number targets the same skills, so the practice is consistent.  Each month also includes a math vocabulary page and a cover, so you can bind these into a morning workbook if you choose. 

Each morning, as the students work, I am able to circulate the classroom and watch how students approach the problems. I ask myself questions like, Are they grouping correctly? Are they labeling their tens and ones clearly? Are they skipping counting accurately or relying on guesswork? This provides me with an opportunity to see where everyone is at in real time. 

Even five to ten minutes a day is enough to give you meaningful information. Over time, patterns emerge. I can start to see which students are consistently confident and which ones need targeted small-group support.

How the Daily Math Place Value Worksheets Support Informal Assessment

These daily practice pages fit naturally into this kind of routine because the structure stays consistent while the problems change. Each month includes focused pages that ask students to work with tens and ones, skip counting, and number relationships like one more, one less, ten more, and ten less.

Because the format is familiar, students don’t get stuck on directions. That frees up your attention to focus on their thinking instead of managing behavior or explaining what to do. For new teachers, especially, this consistency makes it much easier to spot misconceptions!

And remember, the fact that the numbers are not in numerical order is especially helpful for assessment. Students can’t rely on patterns or memorization. Each day requires fresh thinking, which gives you a more accurate picture of true understanding.

Using Student Work to Spot Common Place Value Misconceptions

Aside from observing informal place value assessments as students work, you will also be able to use these pages as a record for each student. Daily place value pages are powerful because they show you more than right or wrong answers. They show you how students are thinking. 

For example, you might notice a student consistently representing numbers with too many ones, which signals a need to revisit grouping. Another student might correctly model tens and ones but struggle with one more or one less, especially around numbers like 19 or 29. Since the pages are bound together in a book, it's quick and easy to take a peek when time allows. 

These observations guide your instruction. Instead of reteaching whole-group lessons, you can pull a small group for five minutes and address the exact skill students are missing. Over time, this targeted support leads to stronger number sense across the whole class!

Teacher Tip for Easier Assessment:

When it comes to informal assessments, keeping a simple system helps. You don't need to look at every skill every day.  Instead, pick one specific skill to target and check for understanding.  Jot down students who may be struggling for a small group re-teach or as a reminder to check back to see if it is a consistent struggle or a one-time issue. 

Another approach would be to set a time (once a week or once a month) in your schedule when you can review the completed pages. Do a quick check and jot down any areas where you see consistent errors.

Extending Informal Assessment Through Centers and Small Groups

Aside from the magic of using daily worksheets as an informal place value assessment, centers and small groups are another great opportunity. In my Daily Place Value Worksheets & Centers Bundle, you get 2-3 activities for each month that fit perfectly in this spot of your day. The activities are super low-prep, so you can focus on working with students, observing, and seeing how they explain their thinking rather than prepping.

Not to mention, these activities are FUN for young learners, so they won't feel like a test. You get a wide variety of activities in the bundle that focus on tens and ones, comparing numbers, ordering numbers, and so much more. 

To use these in small groups as an informal assessment, try asking follow-up questions as students work, such as "How do you know that number is greater than the other?" Those conversations give you valuable insight that you can add to your notes. Each month, as the skills increase in difficulty, you will be able to quickly and easily see who needs extra support. 

For students who do need more practice, these center activities offer a great way to approach it without adding extra work. Simply assign them as a partner game or independent activity as a follow-up later in the week to provide another fun opportunity to work on the target skills. You get to reuse materials, and your students get the practice they need. Win-win!

Making Informal Assessment Work Without Extra Stress

As primary teachers, our plates are FULL. But, even so, we don't want to spend time spinning our wheels and being unsure about who needs extra support. This is where a low-stress, informal assessment routine will totally have your back. 

The goal of informal assessment isn’t to collect more data. It’s to make the data you already see more useful. When daily place value practice is built into your routine, assessment becomes part of teaching instead of something extra. And what could be better than that?!

I know you don’t need more paperwork. You just need a reliable, repeatable way to see student thinking every day. The Daily Place Value Worksheets and Centers help achieve this without the drama! 

Inside, you get a whole school year's worth of worksheets and centers, split up by month so you always have a way to practice, observe, and fine-tune your instruction. That's 9 resources that are ready to go and will save you so much time!

Ready to Make Place Value Assessment Feel Easier?

If you’re looking for a way to track place value understanding without constant testing or extra planning, daily place value practice is a simple place to start. The Daily Math Place Value Worksheets and Centers Bundle was designed to support this exact process. 

Now is a great time to put a routine in place that works all year long! Grab the bundle for quick, meaningful daily practice that doubles as the place value assessment tool you've been looking for!

Looking for More?

Check out these place value posts for more support!

• Using Place Value Blocks to Build Number Sense
• Using Books for Teaching Place Value 
• Hands-On Place Value Activities

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