Research Report
Gains of 1.6 Years Average For Middle School Intervention With Math Upgrade
by Amy English, Math Dept Chair
Knight Middle School, Louisville Kentucky
A group of 57 students Grades 6 to 8 completed Math Upgrade lessons as part of math intervention classes in Fall 2007. The students were assessed at the elementary level in math before the intervention. Each week, students completed 2 to 3 sessions of 40 minutes with the course. By the end of the semester, students had gained an average of 1.6 years on the STAR MATH assessment. All but one student showed improvement, with 68% showing gains of 1 year or more.
Student Selection
- 2 intervention classes for 57 students grade 6 to 8
- Students scoring elementary level on Star Math assessment
- Taught by Math Dept Chair Amy English
- Math Upgrade online student courses
Math Upgrade Intervention
- Students completed Math Upgrade online courses
- Sessions of one class period (40 minutes) 2 to 3 times per week
- Standard lectures for the rest of the class time
- Total time August to December 2007, 1 semester
- Typical total hours per student on Math Upgrade: 7 to 10 hours
- Typical highest level reached on Math Upgrade: 30 to 50
Results From Star Math Independent pre/post tests
- Average Gain: 1.6 Years
- 68% of students had gains of 1 year or more
- 19% of students had gains of 2 years or more
- 98% of students made gains (only 1 student did not)