Skill-Based Elementary Math Interventions & Strategies

Think about targeted, skill-based intervention in your elementary classroom. For me, I think: Too many students. A huge variety of skill levels. Where do I start? How do I find the time?! What intervention activities will I use? 

Sound familiar? You’re not alone!

I had all of those questions/stressors thinking about math intervention. However, my one beacon of hope was my one classroom assistant/aide that came to help in my room while we were doing math rotations for 30 minutes. You better believe I wanted to make her time in my room as effective as possible.

I needed a routine that would allow her to get started right away, without me having to pull her aside to talk to her about who needed what every.single.day. (Plus, I was in the middle of teaching a small group when she arrived, so I definitely didn’t want to stop teaching to give her instructions!)

So here’s what I came up with… Skill-based math intervention folders. Each folder had a different skill: counting to 120, place value, addition, subtraction, etc. Inside each folder, I filled it with printable worksheets or activities that I wanted my students to practice with help. I slid all of the pages into sheet protectors and added them to the pronged folders so they could be reused with my assistant over and over.

On a shelf near the door in my classroom, I had a small bin with the different intervention folders, dry erase markers, math manipulatives/counters, and anything else she might need. To let her know which students I wanted her to work with that day, I simply put a post-it note on top of the folder she would need for that student. Sometimes I would add little notes telling her to use base 10 blocks when you pull __, or only spend 5 minutes working on this skill with __.

In the front left pocket of the folder, I typed out a little page for progress notes. Before my assistant finished with a student, she’d quickly fill this out so I knew exactly what they worked on and how it went.

If you’re struggling with how to fit in a little skill-based math intervention in your classroom, I highly suggest trying this out! These folders are SO easy to put together, and you can use resources & activities you’re already using in your classroom to fill the folders! Plus, once they’re put together, you can have any extra hands (think parent helpers, too!) work with your students!

If you don’t have the time to find activities to fill your folders, I have a few already good to go for you. Click here to check them out!