Following is a comprehensive list of specific Tier 1 interventions for math at the secondary level:
- 1.
PALS Math: Developed by Drs. Doug and Lynn Fuchs (n.d.), this program is designed to pair a student who is struggling with a concept with another student who understands it. The premise behind this research-based Tier 1 intervention is that the teacher teaches the lesson through direct instruction, and then students are paired with a peer to gain practice on the skill taught. Peer tutors and tutees are changed constantly depending on the skills of the students and their understanding of the concept being taught. More information about PALS Math can be obtained at http://kc.vanderbilt.edu/pals/about.html.
- 2.
Core-Plus Mathematics: This research-based math intervention program starts in ninth grade and continues through twelfth. The program starts with lessons on broad mathematical topics and ends with the last course focusing on preparing students for math classes on the collegiate level. Teachers who decide to use this intervention must be willing to embrace the use of small collaborative groups in order to teach the lessons and then follow up with a whole group summary of the concepts learned (Institute of Education Sciences, 2010). More information about Core-Plus Mathematics can be obtained at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Docs/InterventionReports/wwc_coreplus_092110.pdf.
- 3.
Mnemonic Devices: One intervention that is used frequently in math is mnemonic devices. These can be a word, song, or anything that will assist the student in remembering the various steps that must be taken to work out the problem correctly. Probably the one that most people remember is Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally (PEMDAS), used when one is trying to remember the order of operations when multiplying. Many mnemonic devices can assist students with remembering how to solve a math problem. One such mnemonic, RIDE (R = remember the problem correctly; I = identify the import information; D = determine the operation and the unit for the answer; E = enter the correct number, calculate your answer, and check work), is used to assist students in solving any type of math word problem. Online Math Learning (2015) has established many mnemonics that can be used for math, or the students can make their own if it will better assist them in remembering how to solve a math problem. For more information about this strategy, see http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/math-mnemonics.html.
- 4.
Draw to Clarify Understanding: This intervention helps struggling students visualize what a math problem is asking by creating a drawing of the problem. Teachers need to model this intervention and have students practice it prior to doing it on their own. The picture need not be elaborate; it can be something simple like stick figures or even dots and hash marks. The point is to get students to visualize the word problems so that they can figure out how to solve them (Van Essen & Hamaker, 1990; Van Garderen, 2006). More information about this strategy can be found at http://www.jimwrightonline.com/php/interventionista/interventionista_random.php?intv_ID=321.
- 5.
Wrap-Around Instruction: This intervention consists of a five-step process. The first step is to assess all the students and ascertain their background knowledge on the topic about to be taught. Once these data have been gathered and analyzed, the next step is for the teacher to provide explicit or direct instruction to the students. After instruction, the next procedure is for the teacher to model the steps aloud on how to complete the problem and demonstrate how the answer is derived. The teacher allows the students to practice this step in the same manner it was taught prior to moving on to the fourth step, which is providing the students with feedback on their performance. The feedback can be verbal, written, or a combination of both. The type of feedback provided may depend on the students’ needs and abilities and the type of practice work the students are given. The fifth and final step is to review the work the students completed to ensure that they have mastered the material (Montague, 1997; Montague, Warger, & Morgan, 2000). More information about wrap-around instruction can be found at http://www.jimwrightonline.com/php/interventionista/interventionista_random.php?intv_ID=318.
- 6.
Math Vocabulary: This intervention is similar to one for teaching new vocabulary words in English class. First, the teacher introduces the math vocabulary word. Next, the instructor models how the word is used in the lesson and provides examples. Last, the student practices using the word when describing how he/she obtained the answer to the problem (Chard, n.d.). More information about math vocabulary can be obtained at http://www.jimwrightonline.com/php/interventionista/interventionista_random.php?intv_ID=353.