Examining the Effect of Supplementary Early Mathematics Curriculum for Preschoolers

• In Event: Early Childhood Math

Abstract

The proposed paper shares the latest findings from a federally-funded efficacy study that examined the effectiveness of Numbers Plus Preschool Mathematics Curriculum and training/coaching. On average, students whose schools implemented Numbers Plus scored 3.7 points higher on the Woodcock-Johnson III (WJ-III) Applied Problems subtest (McGrew & Woodcock, 2001) and 1.22 points higher on Early Mathematics Assessment System (EMAS; Ginsburg et al., 2010) than students whose schools did not implement the program. The effect was positive and statistically significant. In addition, the program helped reduce teachers’ self-rated levels of math anxiety. The findings suggest that Numbers Plus is effective in increasing the quality of teachers’ math instructions, lowering teachers’ math anxiety, and promoting children’s competence in math learning.

Authors

• Tomoko Wakabayashi, Oakland University

• Fernando Andrade-Adaniya, HighScope Educational Research Foundation

• Carol Markley, HighScope Educational Research Foundation

• Lawrence J. Schweinhart, HighScope Educational Research Foundation

• Beth Marshall