Foundational mathematics programs at scale: Affordances and challenges

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

The purpose of this panel is to present different perspectives on what is working and what needs improvement to improve foundational mathematics outcomes in low- and middle-income contexts. Specifically, this panel will interrogate the role of structured pedagogy on large-scale projects, focusing on the affordances and next steps needed to ensure learning occurs in early math. Structured pedagogy programs are widely applied and researched globally. Most of these programs have been in reading, although there are some programs in math, with mostly positive outcomes (Ardington, 2024; Piper & Dubeck 2024; Stern et.al., 2023). Structured pedagogy programs provide an aligned set of inputs to increase learning outputs.
In this panel, we will present four perspectives on structured pedagogy programs in early math at scale to better understand the affordances and challenges with these models.
The first presentation will examine qualitative classroom observation data collected from xx countries to delve deeper into the types of support a structured pedagogy programs provide to improve instruction, and what next steps are to continue improving the quality of early math instruction.
The second presentation will share how the Numeracy Research and Development (NRD) program supports implementers across 7 countries to improve numeracy outcomes via structured pedagogy program.
The third presentation draws from a co-creation process conducted with stakeholders in Kenya to design a structured pedagogy program for numeracy outcomes that was constrained by existing resources and sustainability considerations, leading to a co-developed version of structured pedagogy for the country.
The fourth presentation presents teacher voices and views on the issue of curriculum developed in structured pedagogy program, pointing to the importance of listening to teacher voices when designing programs.

Sub Unit

• Global Mathematics Education SIG

Chair

• Yasmin Sitabkhan, Math Mosaic Global

Individual Presentations

• Structured pedagogy: How far will it take us? - Yasmin Sitabkhan, Math Mosaic Global; Ingrid Marta Sapire, Funda Wande; Wendi Ralaingita, RTI International

• Balancing Structured Teacher Support and Autonomy to Improve Numeracy Outcomes: Lessons from Kenya - Virginia Wanjiru Ngindiru, Zizi Afrique Foundation

• Teachers’ views on mathematics curriculum materials developed in a structured pedagogy program - Mercy Kazima, University of Malawi; Yasmin Sitabkhan, Math Mosaic Global