Project Activities
Approximately 50 preschool classrooms in North Carolina will participate in this study. All classroom children will participate, but the researchers will focus on children most at risk for math failure. The Recognition and Response model has shown promise for improving language and literacy outcomes for preschool children. The basic framework of the model—including screening and frequent monitoring of children's progress, use of quality classroom instruction and intensive interventions, and problem solving across collaborative partners—will be modified with preschool math content. Development and revision of the intervention and assessment and professional development materials will occur in years 1 and 2. A pilot study investigating the promise of the system for improving math outcomes and for changing instructional practices will occur in year 3. Using a quasi-experimental design, classrooms will be matched on classroom and teacher variables. Students in the comparison condition will receive math instruction as usual. A series of data analytic strategies, including multi-level modeling, will be used to determine whether the Recognition and Response-Math system shows promise for improving mathematics outcomes. The researchers will also investigate whether differences in growth exist for intervention and comparison children most at risk for math failure or need special education services.
Structured Abstract
Setting
The research will take place in preschools in North Carolina.
Sample
Approximately 50 preschool classrooms will participate in this study. All classroom children will participate, but the researchers will focus on children most at risk for math failure.
Recognition and Response is a particular response to intervention model designed for preschool children. There are three key components of the model: (1) recognition, which involves gathering formative assessment information by screening all of the children in the classroom and periodically monitoring those who need more targeted intervention; (2) response, which involves providing an effective core curriculum and targeted interventions linked to formative assessment results, and (3) problem solving based on collaboration among teachers, parents, and specialists. This research project will adapt this model, which has been developed for early literacy skills, and extend it to teaching mathematics. The team will use the Big Math for Little Kids curriculum as the core curriculum and basis for intensified instruction. The Big Math for Little Kids curriculum is comprised of six sequenced units with five lessons per unit. Each unit is centered on a different mathematical concept: number; shape; measurement; construction and partition numbers; patterns and logic; and navigation and special concepts.
Research design and methods
The activities will consist of four phases. The team will design and adapt the intervention and assessment components and professional development materials, iteratively test and revise the components, investigate the teacher proficiency for implementation, and conduct a pilot study to examine the promise of the intervention for improving math outcomes. Development and revision of the materials will occur in years 1 and 2. The separate components will be tested and revised based on data assessing the acceptability and feasibility of the component and teachers' implementation fidelity. A pilot study investigating the promise of the system for improving math outcomes and for changing instructional practices will occur in year 3. A quasi-experimental design will be used with classrooms matched on classroom and teacher variables.
Control condition
Students in the comparison condition will receive math instruction as usual.
Key measures
A variety of student assessment and observational data will be collected. The mCLASS:CIRCLE math assessment will be used as a universal screening and progress monitoring tool. Additional measures of math will be administered to measure students' overall math growth and individual skills with problem solving, number comparison, numeral literacy, calculation, shape and pattern. Fidelity of implementation data will also be collected through teacher observations and the team will conduct focus groups and interviews with participating teachers.
Data analytic strategy
Multi-level modeling will be used to determine whether the Recognition and Response-Math system shows promise for improving math outcomes. The researchers will also investigate whether differences in growth exist for intervention and comparison children most at risk for math failure or need special education services.
People and institutions involved
IES program contact(s)
Project contributors
Products and publications
Products: The products of this project will be a fully developed preschool system, called Recognition and Response-Math, to teach math to preschool children. Published reports describing the intervention's promise for improving outcomes will also be produced.
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Questions about this project?
To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.
