ERIC Number: ED624674
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 51
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Improving Children's Understanding of Mathematical Equivalence: An Efficacy Study
Davenport, Jodi L.; Kao, Yvonne S.; Johannes, Kristen N.; Byrd Hornburg, Caroline; McNeil, Nicole M.
Grantee Submission
A vast majority of elementary students struggle with the core, pre-algebraic concept of mathematical equivalence. The Improving Children's Understanding of Equivalence (ICUE) intervention integrates four research-based strategies to improve outcomes for second grade students: (1) introducing the equal sign before arithmetic, (2) non-traditional arithmetic practice, (3) concreteness fading exercises, and (4) comparison and explanation. In a large-scale randomized control trial in California public schools, 132 second grade teachers were randomly assigned to either use the ICUE intervention or an active control consisting of non-traditional arithmetic practice alone. Using data from 121 teachers in the analytic sample, the study found that students in the intervention group outperformed students in the active control on proximal and transfer measures of equivalence with no observable trade-offs in computational fluency. The findings suggest that the ICUE intervention helps students construct a robust understanding of mathematical equivalence, a critical precursor to success in algebra. [This paper will be published in "Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness."]
Descriptors: Intervention, Mathematics Instruction, Teaching Methods, Comparative Analysis, Algebra, Elementary School Students, Mathematical Concepts, Difficulty Level, Public School Teachers, Grade 2, Instructional Effectiveness, Concept Formation, Evidence Based Practice, Arithmetic, Outcome Measures, Pretests Posttests
Related Records: EJ1402274
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education; Grade 2; Primary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305A150088