Full Description
Shifting from remediation to preparation so all students can thrive in mathematics
Traditional math interventions often focus on remediation, addressing gaps only after students have fallen behind. Proactive Mathematics Interventions, Grades 2-5: Priming for Success Through Engaging Tasks and Purposeful Design presents a game-changing approach that shifts the focus from "fixing kids" to fixing systems. Designed with a strengths-based perspective, this resource equips educators to prime students for success by preparing them with the foundational skills and confidence needed for grade-level success and beyond.
Grounded in the latest research, the book tackles critical challenges such as systemic inequities, math anxiety, and gaps in student readiness. By integrating formative assessment, asset-based strategies, and practical intervention tasks, this comprehensive guide supports teachers, math coaches, interventionists, and school leaders to create proactive systems that meet every learner where they're at.
Packed with 40+ adaptable tasks, more than 100 printable instructional resources, and actionable strategies, this guide
Provides a strength-based intervention model to help uncover and build on students' existing strengths to cultivate their mathematical confidence
Gives step-by-step guidance on creating a proactive intervention system—from collaborative planning to formative assessment
Includes engaging and adaptable low-floor, high-ceiling tasks to support grade-level instruction on critical mathematical topics.
Offers voices from the field with real-life success stories from educators implementing proactive strategies in their classrooms, their intervention sessions, and their tutoring sessions.
Start transforming your approach to intervention today to make a lasting impact on your student's mathematical successes and identities. This is a must-have tool for educators committed to addressing inequities and redefining intervention, this book ensures every student can be a confident, capable doer of mathematics.
Contents
Preface
What Is This Book About?
Who Is This Book For?
How Does This Book Work?
More on Priming
How Do We Use Certain Language in This Book?
Why Do We Choose Certain Terms?
How Does Strengths-Based Language Change Mindsets?
How Do We Define Terms Throughout the Text?
Acknowledgements
About the Authors
Part 1: Introduction to Priming
Chapter 1: Introduction. Proactive Intervention: Fixing Structures, Not Children
So What's the Problem?
What's Being Done?
What Needs to Change?
What Is the Research Base?
Recommendation 1: Systematic Instruction
Recommendation 2: Mathematical Language
Recommendation 3: Representations
Recommendation 4: Number Lines
Recommendation 5: Word Problems
Recommendation 6: Timed Activities
When We Talk About Intervention, What Do We Mean?
What Do We Mean by Tutoring?
What Are Some Key Elements of the Intervention Instruction?
Employing Multiple Representations
Collaborating Across the Team
Using a Preemptive and Proactive Approach
What Should We Think About Next?
Reflection Opportunities for Chapter 1
Chapter 2: Characteristics of Effective Strengths-Based Interventions
What Is Strengths-Based Teaching and Learning?
What Is the Strengths-Spotting Process
Four Steps to Spotting Strengths
Example of the Process Using a Student's Representation
How Do We Build Rapport and Relationships?
What Does It Mean to Be a Warm Demander?
How Can We Integrate Culturally Responsive Mathematics
Teaching as We Engage in Intervention Activities?
How Can We Leverage Family Involvement in Supporting
Math Proactive Intervention?
How Can We Help Students Avoid or Overcome Math Anxiety?
Reflection Opportunities for Chapter 2
Chapter 3: Formative Assessment: Targeting and Monitoring Interventions
What Is Formative Assessment, and Why Is It Important?
What's the Role of Summative Assessments?
And What About Feedback?
How Can We Focus on Formative Assessment in Intervention Settings?
Observation Tools
Interview Tools
Show Me Tool
What Is the Importance of Task Selection in Assessment?
How Can We Connect Assessment and Instruction?
Reflection Opportunities for Chapter 3
Chapter 4: YOUR TURN: A Proactive Preventative Mathematics Intervention/Tutoring Model in Action
Considering Elements of Your Mathematics Intervention Program
How Is Our Approach Different?
What Does Planning for Priming Look Like?
What Does a Planning Conversation Sound Like?
How Do We Connect Strengths-Based Teaching and Formative Assessment?
How Can We Communicate Student Progress?
What Are Other Considerations We Need to Think About?
Staffing
Time and Location
Program Size
Instructional Materials
Instruction and Assessment
Where Do You Begin Priming Intervention Lessons?
What Can We Learn From Listening to the Voices of Others Trying Priming in Their Schools?
And Now, It's Your Turn!
Reflection Opportunities for Chapter 4
Part 2: Putting Priming Into Action
Chapter 5 Intervention Tasks
Task 1: Mystery Number Riddles
Task 2: Come on Down!
Task 3: Trading Places
Task 4: Adding It Up
Task 5: What's the Difference?
Task 6: Targeted Sum
Task 7: Targeted Differences
Task 8: Valuable Digits
Task 9: Picture This
Task 10: Balancing Act
Task 11: Escape Room
Task 12: Things That Come in Groups
Task 13: Garden Spaces
Task 14: Build It Bingo
Task 15: Rearrange It
Task 16: Multiplication Chains
Task 17: Speed Estimator
Task 18: Magic Pot Patterns
Task 19: Fraction Frenzy
Task 20: Cake Time
Task 21: Line 'Em Up
Task 22: To Be or Not to Be: Equivalent Fractions
Task 23: Fraction Equivalence Through Quilts and Fringes
Task 24: Sport Stats
Task 25: Fraction Zap
Task 26: Fraction Sums
Task 27: Fraction Multiplication: Fundraiser
Task 28: Fraction Multiplication: Farmland
Task 29: Fraction Races
Task 30: Shape Sort
Task 31: Alike and Different
Task 32: Shape Shifting
Task 33: Shapes: Build It!
Task 34: What's My Rule?
Task 35: Counting Coins
Task 36: Smart About Money
Task 37: Measure Up!
Task 38: Comparing With Measurement
Task 39: On the Edge
Task 40: Field Day
Task 41: Broken Clock
Task 42: Tip and Plot
Task 43: Picture Perfect
References
Index
