Early Intervention Is Worth It.

I still have to figure out why more schools are unwilling or unable to offer math intervention in the very early grades.  I've seen schools provide reading interventions to the students who need it but when it was suggested these students would benefit from math interventions, I've heard the same response.  Students have to read to do math.  Although the gains from early interventions seem to fade by the upper elementary, a new study has discovered that interventions begun in preschool and kindergarten help students significantly.

It is well known that students who arrive in preschool with low number skills are more likely to not do well in math during elementary school.  In fact, they are more likely to struggle through elementary school, into high school.  This lack of foundational knowledge means they begin behind and stay behind.  Unfortunately,  most schools, if they talk about starting it somewhere between first and third, have a reason to begin interventions much earlier.  

A recent study showed that when students in preschool and kindergarten participate in intervention programs, they do better in math and miss less school by the time they reach the 3rd grade. They looked at students who began preschool with  lower than normal language skills and short attention spans showed significant improvement in math by third grade especially. When they participated in the intervention programs in both preschool and kindergarten, they gained enough ability by 3rd grade to close the gap between low and high income groups.

It was also discovered that these same students had better attendance by 3rd grade.  It is thought that the early intervention changed the view of these students towards math and school so they wanted to go.  It is also speculated that teachers were more likely to build relationships with students since they saw the students enjoyed math more.

These are things for school districts to think about due to the pandemic. Many of these incoming students have not had a chance to build the normal foundations to prepare them for school.  It is commented that many of the students in the lower socio-economic groups do not get the same support at home that others do and this explains why they are already behind when they start. 

To counter this and the effects of the pandemic, school districts should start looking at providing interventions to students who are already behind when they begin preschool and kindergarten rather than waiting until they are far behind.  If we can catch them early enough, the gap can be closed.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.