Evidence-based instructional strategies

Focusing on the five mathematical practices of strategies for problem-solving, instruction and use of formal mathematical language to promote mathematical discourse, use of the concrete-representational-abstract sequence to scaffold learning, use of explicit instruction, and ensuring fact and computational fluency in all students leads to a firm foundation in the conceptual understanding of mathematics. The following aims to provide you with resources to help you incorporate each of these practices into your Tier 1 instruction and/or part of specially designed instruction for students with disabilities. 

What problem-solving strategies can support my students? 

• Effective Word-Problem Instruction: Using Schemas to Facilitate Mathematical Reasoning by Sarah R. Powell and Lynn S. Fuchs 
• This article is available for download at the National Library for Medicine

• VDOE Schema-Based Instruction Webinar

• Project STAIR, Word Problem Attack Strategies 

• Iris Center, Schema Instruction 

• Solve-It!: A research-based instructional strategy to help students with developing a strategy for solving word problems. 
  • Excerpt about Solve-It!  
  • Contact the T/TAC at VCU to get more information and support with implementation of this strategy. 
• Pirate Math Equation Quest
  • Pirate Math Equation Quest Supplemental
    Materials (PDF)

 

How can I build my students’ understanding of formal mathematical language?

• VDOE’s Mathematics vocabulary word wall cards

• Printable resources to support student discourse in the mathematics classroom

• Number Talks
• Number Talks  
• Number Talks: How and Why? 
• How do I begin to use Number Talks? 
• Number Talks (all ages) [video]

 

What is the Concrete-Representational-Abstract Instructional Approach? 

• The Concrete-Representational-Abstract Approach for Mathematics Instruction

• Hands-on Standards guidebooks (Available for grades K-8): Step by step guidebooks to help you teach students the conceptual understanding of key mathematical concepts using the CRA framework.
• Check out this hands-on mathematics resource from our lending library.
• Here is a list of mathematics manipulatives available in the T/TAC library: T/TAC Library Math Manipulatives -- 2020 update.pdf

 

What is explicit instruction and how can it support mathematical instruction and learning?

• Explicit Instruction: A Teaching Strategy in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics for Students with Learning Disabilities 

• Fraction Face-Off!! 
• Check out this hands-on mathematics intervention for fraction understanding from our 

• Hands-on Standards guidebooks (Available for grades K-8): Step by step guidebooks to help you teach students the conceptual understanding of key mathematical concepts using the CRA framework.
• Check out this hands-on mathematics resource from our lending library.

• Solve-It!: A research-based instructional strategy to help students with developing a strategy for solving word problems. 
• Excerpt about Solve-It! 
• Contact the T/TAC at VCU to get more information and support with implementation of this strategy. 

• Montague, M., Warger, C., & Morgan, T. H. (2000). Solve it! Strategy instruction to improve mathematical problem solving. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 15(2), 110–116. 
  • Request access to this article from the authors at this link.

 

How can I build my students’ fact and computational fluency?

• Boaler, J., Williams, C., & Confer, A. (2015). Fluency without fear: Research evidence on the best ways to learn math facts. 

• Fraction Face-Off!!
• Check out this hands-on mathematics intervention for fraction understanding from our lending library.

• Solve-It!: A research-based instructional strategy to help students with developing a strategy for solving word problems. 
• Contact the T/TAC at VCU to get more information and support with implementation of this strategy. 

 

Where can I learn more?

For more information on each of these practices, check out the VDOE’s Evidence-Based Specially Designed Instruction in Mathematics Resource Guide.