About the Book

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.

Table of Contents:
Preface What Is This Book About? Who Is This Book For? How Does This Book Work? More on Priming How Do We Use Certain Language in This Book? Why Do We Choose Certain Terms? How Does Strengths-Based Language Change Mindsets? How Do We Define Terms Throughout the Text? Acknowledgements About the Authors Part 1: Introduction to Priming Chapter 1: Introduction. Proactive Intervention: Fixing Structures, Not Children So What’s the Problem? What’s Being Done? What Needs to Change? What Is the Research Base? Recommendation 1: Systematic Instruction Recommendation 2: Mathematical Language Recommendation 3: Representations Recommendation 4: Number Lines Recommendation 5: Word Problems Recommendation 6: Timed Activities When We Talk About Intervention, What Do We Mean? What Do We Mean by Tutoring? What Are Some Key Elements of the Intervention Instruction? Employing Multiple Representations Collaborating Across the Team Using a Preemptive and Proactive Approach What Should We Think About Next? Reflection Opportunities for Chapter 1 Chapter 2: Characteristics of Effective Strengths-Based Interventions What Is Strengths-Based Teaching and Learning? What Is the Strengths-Spotting Process Four Steps to Spotting Strengths Example of the Process Using a Student’s Representation How Do We Build Rapport and Relationships? What Does It Mean to Be a Warm Demander? How Can We Integrate Culturally Responsive Mathematics Teaching as We Engage in Intervention Activities? How Can We Leverage Family Involvement in Supporting Math Proactive Intervention? How Can We Help Students Avoid or Overcome Math Anxiety? Reflection Opportunities for Chapter 2 Chapter 3: Formative Assessment: Targeting and Monitoring Interventions What Is Formative Assessment, and Why Is It Important? What’s the Role of Summative Assessments? And What About Feedback? How Can We Focus on Formative Assessment in Intervention Settings? Observation Tools Interview Tools Show Me Tool What Is the Importance of Task Selection in Assessment? How Can We Connect Assessment and Instruction? Reflection Opportunities for Chapter 3 Chapter 4: YOUR TURN: A Proactive Preventative Mathematics Intervention/Tutoring Model in Action Considering Elements of Your Mathematics Intervention Program How Is Our Approach Different? What Does Planning for Priming Look Like? What Does a Planning Conversation Sound Like? How Do We Connect Strengths-Based Teaching and Formative Assessment? How Can We Communicate Student Progress? What Are Other Considerations We Need to Think About? Staffing Time and Location Program Size Instructional Materials Instruction and Assessment Where Do You Begin Priming Intervention Lessons? What Can We Learn From Listening to the Voices of Others Trying Priming in Their Schools? And Now, It’s Your Turn! Reflection Opportunities for Chapter 4 Part 2: Putting Priming Into Action Chapter 5 Intervention Tasks Task 1: Mystery Number Riddles Task 2: Come on Down! Task 3: Trading Places Task 4: Adding It Up Task 5: What’s the Difference? Task 6: Targeted Sum Task 7: Targeted Differences Task 8: Valuable Digits Task 9: Picture This Task 10: Balancing Act Task 11: Escape Room Task 12: Things That Come in Groups Task 13: Garden Spaces Task 14: Build It Bingo Task 15: Rearrange It Task 16: Multiplication Chains Task 17: Speed Estimator Task 18: Magic Pot Patterns Task 19: Fraction Frenzy Task 20: Cake Time Task 21: Line ’Em Up Task 22: To Be or Not to Be: Equivalent Fractions Task 23: Fraction Equivalence Through Quilts and Fringes Task 24: Sport Stats Task 25: Fraction Zap Task 26: Fraction Sums Task 27: Fraction Multiplication: Fundraiser Task 28: Fraction Multiplication: Farmland Task 29: Fraction Races Task 30: Shape Sort Task 31: Alike and Different Task 32: Shape Shifting Task 33: Shapes: Build It! Task 34: What’s My Rule? Task 35: Counting Coins Task 36: Smart About Money Task 37: Measure Up! Task 38: Comparing With Measurement Task 39: On the Edge Task 40: Field Day Task 41: Broken Clock Task 42: Tip and Plot Task 43: Picture Perfect References Index