The Influence of Mathematics Vocabulary Instruction Embedded within Addition Tutoring for First-Grade Students with Mathematics Difficulty [Addition tutoring with embedded vocabulary vs. addition tutoring without vocabulary]
Powell, Sarah R.; Driver, Melissa K. (2015). Learning Disability Quarterly, v38 n4 p221-233. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1075501
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examining70Students, grade1
Practice Guide
Review Details
Reviewed: July 2019
- Practice Guide (findings for Targeted Math Intervention)
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Meets WWC standards without reservations because it is a randomized controlled trial with low attrition.
This review may not reflect the full body of research evidence for this intervention.
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
Findings
|
Outcome measure |
Comparison | Period | Sample |
Intervention mean |
Comparison mean |
Significant? |
Improvement index |
Evidence tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Addition Fluency |
Targeted Math Intervention vs. Intervention |
3 Days |
addition tutoring with language/vocab component vs. addition tutoring without language/vocab component;
|
4.70 |
5.74 |
No |
-- |
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
Sample Characteristics
Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.
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13% English language learners -
Female: 53%
Male: 47% -
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Northeast, South
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Race Black 20% Other or unknown 30% White 50% -
Ethnicity Hispanic 10% Not Hispanic or Latino 90%
Study Details
Setting
The study took place in first-grade classrooms in the mid-Atlantic region.
Study sample
Of the 70 students in the analytic sample, approximately 53 percent were female, 20 percent had a school-identified disability, and 13 percent were learning English as a second language. The racial and ethnic background of students was 20 percent black, 50 percent white, 10 percent Hispanic, 4 percent other, and 16 percent unknown. They do note that during the 2012 through 2013 school year, the average percentage of students receiving reduced and/or free lunch across the 18 schools was 43.7%. (p. 224)
Intervention Group
The two addition tutoring intervention conditions—with and without the math vocabulary component—were the same with the exception of the embedded math vocabulary component. Specifically, students in both addition tutoring conditions received tutoring sessions up to 3 times per week for 10 to 15 minutes each session from the first week of March to the last week of April (15 tutoring sessions total). Sessions were led by trained tutors presumably in small groups by condition. Three activities occurred in both tutoring conditions: flash cards, tutor-led lesson, and paper-and-pencil review. There were two key differences between the two tutoring conditions. The students in the tutoring condition with the math vocabulary component participated in a mathematics vocabulary introduction or review at the start of each session, and the tutor emphasized vocabulary terms during the tutor-led lesson. (pp. 225, 226)
Comparison Group
Students assigned to the addition tutoring without embedded mathematics vocabulary received 15 tutoring sessions about 3 times per week. Each session lasted 10 to 15 minutes. Students participated in 3 activities: flash card activity, tutor-led lesson, and paper-and-pencil review. The flash card activity included picture flash cards and addition flash cards. The second activity was a tutor-led lesson. The first part of the lesson focused on sorting shapes. The remainder of the tutor-led session focused on either representing numbers, comparing numbers, solving addition problems, or counting on strategies. The tutor did not review or ask about vocabulary terms and their meanings. Lastly, the students completed a paper-and-pencil review of 6 problems that was graded by the tutor and returned to the student.
Support for implementation
Hired tutors participated in a two-hour training to familiarize themselves with and practice the two addition tutoring interventions. Each tutoring session had a lesson guide to ensure that the tutors covered lesson materials in a similar manner. Tutors also met with the project coordinator at the end of the second and fourth weeks of tutoring to discuss implementation and resolve any issues related to student behavior. (p. 225)
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