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Overview
This review summarizes the first wave of intervention reports produced in 2005-06. www.whatworks.ed.gov.
WWC identified 237 studies of 73 curricula
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) looked at elementary school math curricula designed to promote math knowledge and skills among elementary school students (average ages 5 to 10 years). 1 Because there is some variation in how elementary school is organized across school districts, this review defined elementary school as a school with any of the grades, K through 5. Curricula included in this review are replicable, materials-based instructional programs that cover one or more of the following content areas: numbers, arithmetic, geometry, pre-algebra, measurement, graphing, and logical reasoning. This review considered only core, comprehensive math curricula. 2 Core math curricula are defined as instructional programs that extend over the course of one semester or more, are central to students' regular school instruction, and are based on any combination of text materials, manipulatives, computer software, videotapes, and other materials. This review focuses on student achievement in mathematics as the key outcome.
The findings in this topic report summarize the first wave of WWC elementary school math intervention reports produced in 2006–07. We looked at 340 studies. Of these, 237 were assessments of interventions that qualified for our review; the other 103 could not be categorized by intervention. 3 Of the 237 studies, 9 studies of 5 curricula met our evidence standards, 2 without reservations and 7 with reservations. Altogether, the WWC looked at 73 interventions: 5 had studies that met WWC standards with or without reservations, 67 had studies that did not meet WWC evidence screens, and 1 had a single-case study, which is still under review. (The identification of eligible programs ended in September 2005, and that of eligible studies, in July 2006.)
In looking at the one outcome domain for the five elementary school math curricula:
- Everyday Mathematics had potentially positive effects on math achievement
Four other curricula had no discernible effects on math achievement.
2 Supplemental math interventions may be considered at a later date.
3 One of the 237 studies is a single-case study, which is still under review. The WWC is currently developing standards for the review of single-case studies.
