The aim of the present study was to investigate children's achievement goal orientations and their relations to math achievement in the primary grades. The sample consisted of 179 children who were in the 2nd and 3rd grades during the first measurement and in the 3rd and 4th grades during the second measurement. Children's self-ratings were obtained on their goal orientations, their math performance was tested and their math grades were taken into account. Teacher ratings were obtained on each child's effort in class. Children's self-reported performance-avoidance goals were found to be related to their achievement outcomes. Math achievement seems to influence children's achievement goal orientation rather than vice versa in the primary grades. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)