What are Interventions?
Have you heard a teacher use the word “intervention” and wondered what it meant? When educators notice a child struggling academically, they look for strategies to help them to learn the material. Educators call those strategies “interventions.”
A math intervention means finding the best way to help a student succeed in math. For example, if Billy is struggling to learn division, one intervention will probably include giving him extra time and practice with division.
When are Math Interventions Needed?
Interventions are easiest to implement at the first sign of trouble.
Think of struggling in math like encountering a germ. If we can stop the germ from entering our body and multiplying we never feel the symptoms of the illness. The intervention for stopping the germ from entering the body may be as simple as washing our hands. Once we are symptomatic, the intervention must be more aggressive to be effective.
By the time students start struggling with math in the classroom, they are already “symptomatic.” The more symptomatic the student is, the more intense the intervention will need to be. In math the first sign of trouble is often a simple mistake. Another early sign of trouble is a student complaining about math.
Who Does Math Intervention Help?
Most students will need a math intervention at some point in their math career. To truly know if and when your child needs a math intervention, a comprehensive assessment is necessary.
Assessments, like the ones we offer at Mathnasium of Littleton, find math gaps. Unfortunately, despite children taking lots of tests at school these days, not many schools have great assessment tools for strategic math intervention. The following list describes 12 types of students who often benefit from a math intervention.
1. Anyone who says they “hate” math
2. Students who feel behind in math
3. Students who learn math quickly and are getting bored in school
4. Anyone who has a health condition or has had an injury that affected their learning speed or ability
5. Students who goof-off in math
6. Students identified with dyscalculia
7. Middle school and high school students whose grades are sub-par
8. High school students in danger of not successfully completing advanced algebra
9. College-bound students who may not pass the college math placement exam
10. Students preparing to take the SAT/ACT
11. Anyone who missed a significant amount of school
12. Anyone with a math learning gap
What are Common Math Interventions?
Children struggling in math benefit from a combination of the following interventions:
Math Interventions for Children who Learn Math Quickly
Students who are accelerated in math often don't get enough math challenges at school and have gotten bored. They need interventions that allow them to progress at their own, often quicker than the class in general, pace. They also enjoy going deeper into math topics that they find stimulating. And if they have a few gaps that are holding them back from truly soaring we address those, too.
5 Ways Parents can Support a Math Intervention
After an intervention, you may hear the phrase “response-to-intervention” or “RTI.” This is educator-speak for determining if the intervention helped the child master the material. Another assessment will be needed to be know if progress has been made. At Mathnasium we offer regular assessments as well as a full post assessment to determine a child's progress and their next steps.
Please call us ahead of time to schedule an assessment. 303-979-9077
Articles for further reading:
· Diagnose Your Child’s Math Mistakes with 2 Easy Questions!
· Standardized Tests Versus Mathnasium’s Diagnostic Assessment
· 4 Secrets About Math Education that Impact Your Child
· Most Children Have Math Gaps And It's Often Not Their Fault!
· Warning! Hating Math is a Big Red Flag!
· We See a Brighter Future in Math
· How Math Concepts and Math Skills Work Together and Why You Should Care
· When and When Not to Teach Math Shortcuts and Tricks
· Manipulatives Help Kids Understand Math Concepts
· 6 Tips to Help Your Perfectionist Child Thrive in Math
· Does Your Child Ask Questions in Math Class?
· Practice Makes Perfect so Perfect Practice is Essential
· Learning Math Symbols in Elementary School Takes Time
· A Step-by-Step Plan to Rock Your Math Final
· How Can I Boost My Child’s Math Success?
· Why Does Mathnasium of Littleton Focus on Foundational Math Skills?
· Where Is Your Child on the Math Motivation Ladder?
· Increase Your Child's Math Accuracy by Changing 4 Bad Habits
· Solving Math Problems Strategically
· What Do Digital Cameras and Mathnasium Have in Common?
· 3 Fun Halloween Math Activities
· What is the Saddest Kind of Failure in Math?
· How Can My Child Have Math Gaps?!
· Choose a Personalized Strategy to Reach Your Math Goals
· Finding the Courage to Attend Mathnasium
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