MedPath

Investigation of Instructional Approaches to Elementary Math

Not Applicable
Conditions
Student Math Achievement
Interventions
Behavioral: JumpMath
Registration Number
NCT02456181
Lead Sponsor
The Hospital for Sick Children
Brief Summary

The overall aim of the proposed project is to test the efficacy of a relatively new, well-developed math program on the math achievement of elementary school students in mainstream classes in urban schools. Use of this program is increasing in Canada and the United Kingdom. Preliminary findings derived from uncontrolled trials and our own pilot, randomized controlled trial suggest it may yield meaningful gains in math achievement for both at-risk and achieving students, as indexed by their performance on national exams, in national math competitions, as well as on standardized measures of math achievement. However, the program has yet to be rigorously evaluated to determine its relative efficacy compared to the math programs typically used by school boards. The program provision of grade-specific teacher's guides and student workbooks (for grades 1 to 8), and minimal teacher training, points to its potential utility for full-scale implementation, should its efficacy be confirmed.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1156
Inclusion Criteria
  • The students must: have sufficient command of English to understand their teacher's instructions (as judged by their teacher, ELL students will be included provided they meet this criterion). They must have a signed parental consent form and also assent to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria
  • The students must have no uncorrected sensory, neurological, or physical impairments that would preclude the use of manipulatives, perceiving written math materials and figures, or hearing the teacher's instructions.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
JumpMathJumpMathThe JUMP method focuses more on the mental activity involved in constructing mathematical knowledge. There is a strong emphasis on symbolic math (numbers, letters, mathematical symbols). Manipulatives are used prescriptively, in lessons carefully scaffolded to help students connect the objects (e.g., three buttons) to what they are intended to stand for (the magnitude "3").
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The change scores on the Math Fluency, Calculation, and Applied Problems sub scales from a standardized battery (WJ-III) and on a curriculum based math measure, as well as on the results from a regional math assessment test.Fall and Spring of School Years 1 and 2 Years
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

SickKids

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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