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Drawing from the developmental and cognitive mathematics literature, the purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability, validity, and diagnostic utility of a widely-researched number line task in kindergarten. Specifically, the Number Line Assessment 0−100 (NLA 0−100) as compared to an established kindergarten screening measure was examined using (a) regression models and (b) classification accuracy. Five- and six-year-old students (n = 154) were assessed on numeracy measures in the fall and spring of their kindergarten year. The NLA 0−100 had lower predictive validity and lower classification accuracy compared to an early numeracy screening measure. The findings have implications for practice and future research using number line screening assessments.

A quasi-experimental design in six kindergarten classrooms ( n = 123 students) was used to study the effects of the KinderTEK iPad–based math program on the math achievement of students in general education classrooms. Student math outcomes in three treatment ( early start) classrooms were compared to math outcomes for students in three comparison ( late start) classrooms. Results suggested that relatively brief exposure to KinderTEK produced gains on distal measures of early numeracy and that, on average, timing of intervention delivery did not impact end of year math outcomes. However, exploratory analyses suggested that earlier and longer use of KinderTEK may have provided a benefit for students most at risk in math. The utility of quasi-experimental studies within an overarching research program and implications for the adoption of technology-based math programs in kindergarten classrooms are discussed.

Students who demonstrate mathematics difficulties (MDs) in the early grades are at risk of poor educational outcomes. Fortunately, strategic early mathematics intervention programs can improve academic outcomes for students with MDs, and instructional technology has demonstrated promise in delivering targeted and individualized mathematics instruction. However, it is unclear whether instructional technology is effective for all students, and there is a dearth of research on adaptations to technology-based interventions for students with difficulties attending to instruction. To this end, the current study investigated functional relations between the use of targeted instructional cueing and self-regulation support features in an iPad-based mathematics program and improved response accuracy for kindergarten students. Results presented here suggest a functional relation between the provision of instructional cueing and self-regulation support features and improved response accuracy for students who participated in an iPad-based mathematics intervention program. Implications for early mathematics instruction and technology-based intervention development are discussed.

Early number skills are a critical aspect of early mathematics development. However, the constructs that comprise early number skills differ across assessments, and previous studies have proposed v...

This manuscript presents the results from a study to investigate the technical characteristics of two versions of a number line assessment (NLA 0–20 and NLA 0–100). The sample consisted of 60 kindergarten and 46 first grade students. Both number line versions had sufficient alternate form and test–retest reliability. The NLA 0–20 had low and the NLA 0–100 had low to moderate correlations with math achievement. Results indicated that the NLA 0–100 explained a small, but unique portion of the variance in first grade mathematics performance when controlling for performance on the Assessing Student Proficiency in Early Number Sense (ASPENS) a set of early numeracy screening measures. We discuss study results related to the utility of adding number line assessment tasks to mathematics screening batteries and propose additional areas of research.

Early number skills, comprised of both informal and formal skills, are associated with later mathematics achievement. Thus, the development of foundational early number skills is an important aspect of early mathematics instruction. This study explored relations between early number skills gains and mathematics achievement for students at risk for mathematics difficulties in a kindergarten intervention study. Results indicated strong relationships between formal number skills gains and mathematics achievement across kindergarten and Grade 1. Intervention participants demonstrated larger informal and formal early number skills gains compared with their control peers, and relations between early number skills gains and first-grade mathematics achievement were moderated by intervention participation. Importantly, these findings suggest that formal and informal number skills gains may be critical components of later mathematics achievement for at-risk students. Implications for special education and intervention in tiered instructional systems are discussed.

Instructor facilitation is an essential element in the successful implementation of technology-based interventions in authentic school settings. This manuscript reports results from two studies conducted during the development of KinderTEK, an iPad delivered kindergarten mathematics intervention, to determine the relationship between instructor-reported technology experience and intervention implementation, as measured by student use. Study results show participating instructors had a range of pre-intervention technological experience with iPads and this range corresponded with variable student use in terms of both within class variability of student use and percentage of students meeting the duration of use target. Consistent with previous research, findings also indicate that second-order technology barriers may be most influential on intervention implementation; however, the quantity of barriers reported (regardless of type) was also associated with the percentage of students meeting target durations of use in each class. Lastly, instructors who reported moderate experience with iPads and/or no barriers to technology integration demonstrated the least desirable student use patterns. Implications for technology-based intervention implementation and professional development are discussed.

Accurately measuring and modeling academic achievement growth is critical to support educational policy and practice. Using a nationally representative longitudinal data set, this study compared various models of mathematics achievement growth on the basis of both practical utility and optimal statistical fit and explored relationships within and between early and later mathematics growth parameters. Common patterns included a summer lag in achievement between kindergarten and Grade 1 and an association between achievement at kindergarten entry and later achievement. Notably, there were no statistically significant relationships between early and later rates of growth, and there was minimal variability in achievement growth in the late elementary and middle school grades. Challenges related to assessing academic achievement in the middle grades and modeling academic skill development are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incremental validity of a set of domain general cognitive measures added to a traditional screening battery of early numeracy measures. The sample consisted of 458 kindergarten students of whom 285 were designated as severely at-risk for mathematics difficulty. Hierarchical multiple regression results indicated that Wechsler Abbreviated Scales of Intelligence (WASI) Matrix Reasoning and Vocabulary subtests, and Digit Span Forward and Backward measures explained a small, but unique portion of the variance in kindergarten students' mathematics performance on the Test of Early Mathematics Ability-Third Edition (TEMA-3) when controlling for Early Numeracy Curriculum Based Measurement (EN-CBM) screening measures (R² change = .01). Furthermore, the incremental validity of the domain general cognitive measures was relatively stronger for the severely at-risk sample. We discuss results from the study in light of instructional decision-making and note the findings do not justify adding domain general cognitive assessments to mathematics screening batteries. (PsycINFO Database Record

Creating an educational program that results in positive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM-oriented outcomes for all students is an important education objective and federal policy directive in the United States. In addition to developing strong mathematics foundations in Grades K–8 that are closely associated with successful STEM outcomes, intrapersonal skill development is also critical to academic and postsecondary success. Using nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–99 the current study applied structural equation growth modeling to examine relationships among mathematics achievement in Grades K–1 and Grades 3–8, and mathematics self-concept development across Grades 3–8. Study results revealed that students reported declining levels of mathematics self-concept across the middle grades. Importantly, third grade reports of self-concept were associated with both mathematics achievement at kindergarten entry and third grade mathematics achievement; however, mathematics achievement at kindergarten entry was also associated with the development of mathematics self-concept in third through eighth grade. In addition, after accounting for mathematics achievement in Grades K–1, mathematics achievement growth in Grades 3–8 was directly associated with mathematics self-concept development across the same time period. Implications for future research, mathematics instruction, and curriculum development are discussed.