Proactive Mathematics Interventions, Grades 2-5
Priming for Success Through Engaging Tasks and Purposeful Design
- Karen S. Karp - Johns Hopkins University
- Francis (Skip) Fennell - McDaniel College, USA
- Beth McCord Kobett - Stevenson University
- Delise R. Andrews - Lincoln Public Schools, Nebraska
- Jennifer Suh
- Latrenda Knighten
Corwin Mathematics Series
Shifting from remediation to preparation so all students can thrive in mathematics
Traditional math interventions often focus on remediation, addressing gaps only after students have fallen behind. Proactive Mathematics Interventions, Grades 2–5: Priming for Success Through Engaging Tasks and Purposeful Design presents a game-changing approach that shifts the focus from "fixing kids" to fixing systems. Designed with a strengths-based perspective, this resource equips educators to prime students for success by preparing them with the foundational skills and confidence needed for grade-level success and beyond.
Grounded in the latest research, the book tackles critical challenges such as systemic inequities, math anxiety, and gaps in student readiness. By integrating formative assessment, asset-based strategies, and practical intervention tasks, this comprehensive guide supports teachers, math coaches, interventionists, and school leaders to create proactive systems that meet every learner where they’re at.
Packed with 40+ adaptable tasks, more than 100 printable instructional resources, and actionable strategies, this guide
- Provides a strength-based intervention model to help uncover and build on students’ existing strengths to cultivate their mathematical confidence
- Gives step-by-step guidance on creating a proactive intervention system—from collaborative planning to formative assessment
- Includes engaging and adaptable low-floor, high-ceiling tasks to support grade-level instruction on critical mathematical topics.
- Offers voices from the field with real-life success stories from educators implementing proactive strategies in their classrooms, their intervention sessions, and their tutoring sessions.
Start transforming your approach to intervention today to make a lasting impact on your student's mathematical successes and identities. This is a must-have tool for educators committed to addressing inequities and redefining intervention, this book ensures every student can be a confident, capable doer of mathematics.
Karp, Fennell, Kobett, Andrews, Suh, and Knighten have long been trusted sources of information about special education and mathematics for me. With this new book, they have delivered an innovative strengths-based intervention approach that focuses on priming rather than remediation. The structures they have designed around co-planning, assessment, and accessible tasks can provide much-needed clarity to the complex task of math intervention work. This work takes the idea of building from student strengths and makes it tangible. I am so excited to see schools and districts implement this work!
What a great resource for supporting interventions! One of the key features of this book is that it provides a detailed process for planning interventions that will assist students in accessing grade-level content. The tasks provided are especially helpful in using rich tasks that engage students as they make sense of mathematics.
This book transforms mathematics intervention! It skillfully weaves together research-based practices of mathematics education and special education to empower educators and their students to be active doers of mathematics. The innovative, strengths-based approach positions all students to be successful by promoting student agency, educator collaboration, and a solid mathematical foundation. This is a must-have resource for all as it offers a new way of thinking about mathematics intervention to drive much-needed change.
Proactive Mathematics Interventions is a game changer! The authors masterfully combine research-based frameworks and instruction to create a coherent picture on how to effectively implement interventions. This must-read book provides clear examples, detailed descriptions, and numerous resources.
This book reminds us that effective intervention isn’t about fixing kids. It’s about fixing systems. With deep respect for teachers and students, the authors share a proactive, strengths-based approach full of practical strategies that help students engage, reason, and see themselves as capable, confident math learners. It's a must-have for every educator.
Proactive Mathematics Interventions advocates for rethinking our traditional deficit approaches to intervention and provides a vision for a strengths-based approach that uncovers and builds upon what students knows and can do in time for them to shine within their classrooms. In addition to advocating for a priming approach, this resource supports educators to enact this instructional shift with tasks and activities that revisit and strengthen foundational understandings while proactively positioning every student to thrive with grade-level content.
As mathematics specialists, we're always looking for ways to enhance our support for both teachers and students. Proactive Mathematics Interventions, Grades 2-5 offers precisely that shift – moving us from a reactive stance to a proactive one within our mathematics and MTSS frameworks. This resource champions the development of a more robust system of support, one centered on a truly transformational approach to mathematics intervention. This book emphasizes a strengths-based perspective, where we leverage the insights gained from formative assessment to guide students in 'doing the math' through thoughtfully chosen, purposeful tasks. This book is an invaluable tool to lead the way in fostering a more proactive and effective mathematics learning environment.
This book will have a permanent spot on your professional bookshelf, but it will hardly ever actually be on the bookshelf. It makes the path for shifting from reactive interventions to proactive interventions clear and the authors provide a comprehensive plan to get there. The task resources are robust and the critical discussion of how to transform a system will impact students for years.
Proactive Mathematics Interventions shifts the focus from remediation to readiness with a powerful “priming” approach. Designed for grades 2–5, it offers timely, targeted strategies grounded in math progressions. With practical tasks and clear guidance, this resource equips teachers, coaches, and leaders to support all learners—especially those who struggle—before they fall behind. A must-have for proactive, meaningful math instruction.