Pirate Math
Intervention Details
Subject
MathAcademic Program
Special Education ServicesDuration
Five weeks, three times a week, for 25 to 30 min per sessionGrade
3Personnel
TutorIntervention Summary
Pirate Math is a word-problem intervention that targets students with math difficulties (MD) by teaching pre-algebraic reasoning and word-problem solving skills. The intervention consists of five activities: Math Fact Flashcards, Equation Quest, Buccaneer Problems, Shipshape Sorting, and Jolly Roger Review. Equation Quest is a pre-algebraic reasoning component that teaches students to understand the equal sign as a relational symbol and to solve equations. Buccaneer Problems teaches students to approach word problems using a schema-based strategy called RUN (Read the problem, Underline the label, and Name the problem type). Shipshape Sorting helps students practice identifying word-problem schemas, and Jolly Roger Review provides a brief review of session content. The intervention is delivered one-on-one by tutors for 30 minutes, three times a week, for 25-30 sessions.
Grade
3Personnel
TutorStatistical Finding Summary
No effect on standard equation solving
Positive effect on nonstandard equation solving for students who received pre-algebraic reasoning instruction
Positive effect on equal sign understanding for students who received pre-algebraic reasoning instruction
Positive effect on double-digit word problems for students who received word-problem intervention with or without pre-algebraic reasoning instruction
Source
Katherine A., B., Marcia A., B. & Sarah R., P. (2019). The Role of Pre-Algebraic Reasoning within a Word-Problem Intervention for Third-Grade Students with Mathematics Difficulty (ED598469). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED598469.pdf.
Data Sample by Population
These charts show the characteristics of the student populations studied. When assessing programs, you may want to prioritize interventions that yielded success in a similar demographic environment as your school or district.