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Version
1.2
Last updated February 26, 2007
The Best Evidence Encyclopedia
What mathematics programs have
been proven to help elementary students to succeed?
To find out, this review summarizes evidence on
three types of programs designed to improve the
mathematics achievement of students in grades
K-6:
-
Mathematics
Curricula (MC), such as Everyday Mathematics,
Saxon Math, and other standard and alternative
textbooks.
-
Computer
assisted instruction (CAI), such as
Jostens/Compass Learning and SuccessMaker.
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Instructional
process programs (IP), such as cooperative
learning, classroom management programs, and
other approaches primarily intended to change
teachers’ instructional strategies rather
than curriculum or textbooks.
Overall, 87 studies met the inclusion
criterion, of which 36 used random assignment
to treatments. These included 13 studies of mathematics
curricula (2 randomized), 38 studies of CAI
(15
randomized), and 36 studies of instructional
process programs (20 randomized).
Mathematics Curricula
(MC).
The review found limited evidence that it matters
which textbook is used, at least for student
outcomes
on standardized tests. Studies of curricula supported
by the National Science Foundation, such as
Everyday
Mathematics and Math Trailblazers, found small
differences in math achievement in comparison
to control groups. Similarly, Saxon Math and
traditional math texts had little evidence of
effectiveness.
Median effect size across 13 studies +0.10.
Computer Assisted Instruction
(CAI). Most studies of CAI find positive
achievement outcomes. However, the outcomes
are
very mixed, and the highest-quality studies find
few positive effects. Also, most qualifying
studies
evaluated programs that are no longer available;
there are few studies of current versions
of CAI.
Median effect size across 38 studies +0.19.
Instructional Process
Strategies (IP). The highest-quality
studies and strongest positive effects were
found for instructional
process programs such as cooperative learning,
classroom management and motivation programs,
and small-group tutoring programs. Median effect
size across 36 studies +0.33.
Listed below are currently available
programs according to these categories. Within
categories, programs are listed in alphabetical
order.
 |
Strong
Evidence of Effectiveness
Classwide Peer Tutoring (IP)
Missouri Mathematics Program (IP)
Peer Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS)
(IP)
Student Teams-Achievement Divisions
(IP)
TAI Math (IP/MC) |
 |
Moderate
Evidence of Effectiveness
Classworks (CAI)
Cognitively Guided Instruction (IP)
Connecting Math Concepts (IP/MC)
Consistency Management & Cooperative
Discipline (IP)
Project SEED (IP)
Small-Group Tutoring (IP) |
 |
Limited Evidence
of Effectiveness
Accelerated Mathematics (CAI)
Dynamic Pedagogy (IP)
Everyday Counts (IP)
Excel Math (MC)
Everyday Mathematics (MC)
Growing with Mathematics (MC)
Houghton-Mifflin Mathematics (MC)
Knowing Mathematics (MC)
Mastery Learning (IP)
Lightspan (CAI)
Project CHILD (IP/CAI) |
 |
Insufficient
Evidence
Math Steps (MC)
Math Trailblazers (MC)
Saxon Math (MC)
Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley Mathematics
(MC) |
|
|
No Qualifying
Studies
Adventures of Jasper Woodbury (IP/CAI)
AIMSweb® Pro Math (CAI)
Bridges in Mathematics (MC)
Compass Learning (CAI) (Current version)
Corrective Math (MC)
Count, Notice, & Remember (IP)
Destination Math Series (CAI)
First in Math® (CAI)
Great Explorations in Math and Science (IP/MC)
Harcourt Math (MC)
Investigations in Number, Data, and Space (MC)
Larson’s Elementary Math
Math Advantage (MC)
MathAmigo (CAI)
Math Blasters (CAI)
Math Central (MC)
Math Coach (MC, IP)
Math Expressions (MC)
Math Explorations and Applications (MC)
Math in My World (MC)
Math Made Easy (CAI)
Math Matters (IP)
Math Their Way (MC)
Math & Me Series (MC)
Math & Music (CAI)
Mathematics Plus (MC)
Mathematics Their Way (MC)
Mathletics (MC)
Math Realm (CAI)
MathWings (IP/MC)
Macmillan McGraw-Hill Math (MC)
McGraw-Hill Mathematics (MC)
Number Power (MC)
Problem Solving Step by Step (IP,MC)
Progress in Mathematics (MC)
Project IMPACT (IP)
Project M3: Mentoring Mathematical Minds (MC)
Rational Number Project (MC)
Real Math (MC)
Reciprocal Peer Tutoring (IP)
Scott Foresman Math Around the Clock (IP/MC)
Singapore Math (MC)
Skills Tutor/Cornerstone2 (CAI)
SuccessMaker (CAI) (Current version)
TIPS Math (IP)
Voyages (IP,MC)
Waterford Early Math (CAI)
Yearly Progress Pro (CAI) |
|
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Classwide
Peer Tutoring—Pair learning approach
in which children take turns as teacher
and learner. Contact Charles Greenwood
at greenwood@ku.edu. |
|
Missouri Mathematics
Program—Program focusing on active
teaching, classroom management, motivation.
Contact Thomas Good, University of Arizona,
at good@u.arizona.edu |
|
Peer Assisted Learning
Strategies (PALS)—Structured pair
learning strategy in which children
take turns as teachers and learners.
www.kc.vanderbilt.edu/pals |
|
Student Teams-Achievement
Divisions (STAD)—Structured
cooperative learning program in which
students work in 4-member teams. Contact
Nancy Madden, Johns Hopkins University,
at nmadden@jhu.edu. |
|
TAI Math—Structured
cooperative learning program in which
students work on individualized materials
in 4-member teams. Contact Brent Farmer,
Charlesbridge Publishing, 800-225-3214,
or bfarmer@charlesbridge.com |
|
Cognitively Guided
Instruction—Program that provides
teachers with workshops in math strategies.
Contact Linda Levi, Teachers Development
Group, at lindalevi@teachersdg.org |
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Connecting Math Concepts—Structured
approach to math with grouping by performance.
www.sraonline.com/math |
|
Consistency Management
& Cooperative Discipline—Program
that emphasizes classroom management,
student engagement. Contact Jerome Freiberg,
University of Houston, at cmcd@uh.edu. |
|
Project SEED—Supplementary
program that has mathematicians teach
advanced topics in math to supplement
regular instruction. www.projectseed.org |
|
Small-Group Tutoring—Provides
tutoring in small groups for struggling
first graders. Contact Lynn Fuchs, Vanderbilt
University, at lynn.fuchs@vanderbilt.edu |
|
Dynamic Pedagogy—Program
that provides teachers with workshops
in math strategies. Contact Eleanor
Armour-Thomas at armourthomas@yahoo.com |
|
Everyday Counts—An
interactive K-6 bulletin-board program
designed to supplement ordinary math
instruction with discussions about
math concepts built around the calendar
and other classroom routines. www.greatsource.com |
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Mastery Learning—A
strategy in which time to learn is
adjusted to fit aptitude. Students
proceed to new material only after
basic prerequisite material is mastered. |
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Project CHILD—Program
that uses cooperative learning, multi-age
grouping, extensive computer-assisted
instruction, and other features. www.ifsi.org/child.htm |
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An exhaustive search considered
hundreds of published and unpublished articles.
It included those that met the following criteria:
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Schools
or classrooms using each program had to be compared
to randomly assigned or well-matched control
groups
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Study
duration had to be at least 12 weeks
-
Outcome
measures had to be assessments of the mathematics
being taught in all classes. Almost all are
standardized tests or state assessments.
-
The review
placed particular emphasis on studies in which
schools, teachers, or students were assigned
at random to experimental or control groups.
Programs were rated according to
the overall strength of the evidence supporting
their effects on math achievement. “Effect
size” (ES) is the proportion of a standard
deviation by which a treatment group exceeds a
control group. Large studies are those involving
a total of at least 10 classes or 250 students.
The categories are as follows:
|
Strong
Evidence of Effectiveness:
At least one large or two small randomized
studies with median ES= +0.20 or more. |
|
Moderate
Evidence of Effectiveness:
At least two large or four small studies
(randomized and matched) with median
ES= +0.20 or more. |
|
Limited
Evidence of Effectiveness:
At least one qualifying study with median
ES=+0.10 or more. |
|
Insufficient
Evidence : Studies show no
significant differences |
| N |
No
Qualifying Studies: No studies
met inclusion standards |
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For a related What Works Clearinghouse
review of Evaluations of Everyday Mathematics,
click on http://www.whatworks.ed.gov/Topic.asp?tid=04&ReturnPage=default.asp.
For a related review by James Kulik
on computer-assisted instruction programs in math
and reading, click on http://www.sri.com/policy/csted/reports/sandt/it/Kulik_ITinK-12_Main_Report.pdf
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