Thinking about working Pt.1

There are a number of ways of working on mathematics and a similar number of ways of encouraging others to work on mathematics...but is there much consensus on what is the most effective way...or a way that works consistently? And how do we judge that something has worked?

Things can be difficult for teachers, often being required to make assessments of things which are quite difficult to assess: what grade will this learner get in two years time? What does this learner know? Why did this learner behave like this?

I feel that if assessments are going to be made about learners these assessments need to be used while they are still relevant i.e. in the moment that they are formulated. What do these learners appear to know right now and how can I use this to inform my teaching? It is this way of working that has affected my practice recently, allowing learners to inform and direct where learning will go. What are yor views?