Eval. Number Rockets: Intervention for 1st Graders at Risk of Difficulties (NUMBER ROCKETS)

Data from a rigorous experimental study of the impact of the Number Rockets small group tutoring program on grade 1 math achievement. Number Rockets is an early mathematics ntervention targeted to students at risk of falling behind. This study found that the Number Rockets intervention had a positive effect on math achievement in grade 1, without having a negative effect on reading achievement. Comparison students received regular core mathematics instruction but no additional support.

There is information from 2,719 students: 1,643 intervention, 1,076 control who consented to participate in the study. These students were screened using a measure composed of six subtests. Three subtests were used in the Fuchs et al. (2005) study and measure grade 1 mathematics skills in solving computation problems, concept/application problems, and brief story problems; the other three were selected from research on valid screening measures in mathematics for grade 1 students (Jordan et al. 2007; Geary 1993; Baker et al. 2006; Clarke et al. 2006) and measure number sense, comparative judgments of numerical magnitude, and working memory. Administration time was about 25 minutes. Students with a screener composite score at or below the sample’s 35th percentile (994 students; 615 intervention, 379 control) were considered at risk and participated in the study.