8 Strategies to Raise Student Achievement in Middle-Grade Mathematics

Full disclosure: each strategy on this list will require some forethought before implementation. If you are seeking one-and-done approaches, this list is not for you. I believe all high-yield strategies work best when embedded in the daily rituals and routines of instructional delivery. This list reflects this belief.  

Ready to dig in?

Strategy 1: Incorporate Daily Cumulative Review.

You’ve heard the adage practice makes perfect? I like to repurpose it as exposure increases understanding. The first phrase is a mantra for math teachers who prioritize building memory. The repurposed phrase is a mantra for math teachers who prioritize building reasoning. To effectively integrate daily cumulative review, rely on open-ended questions that reveal student thinking and allow them to engage with a variety of numbers, in a variety of ways.

Why it matters: Not only does daily cumulative review help to solidify prior learning, but it also aids in uncovering gaps in understanding.

Strategy 2: Set Clear Learning Intentions.

Learning intentions are the foundation for everything that you do. By explicitly outlining what students will learn, you establish a roadmap for planning successful learning activities. During your planning, clear learning intentions allow you to measure the alignment of your instructional strategies and the educational goals identified by your organization. Effective implementation of this strategy includes communicating these intentions to students. 

Why it matters: By sharing learning intentions, you cultivate a sense of purpose in students and empower them to take ownership of their learning journey. 

Strategy 3: Provide Opportunities For Student Self-Reflection.

The ability to reflect on one's learning journey helps foster metacognitive awareness – an essential skill for success in middle-grade mathematics. This strategy promotes self-directed learning and empowers students to take an active role in their mathematical development. One easy-to-implement approach to this is to use the learning intention to create a multi-tiered scale for students to use during the lesson. 

Why it matters: If students view the learning intention as the highest level of the scale, they can articulate their level of understanding and work with you to establish the next steps for their learning. 

Strategy 4: Build Class Community.

Building a class community involves intentionally creating opportunities for students to engage in positive collaborations that celebrate how students are alike and different. To develop the stamina required to engage in rich mathematical tasks, students must feel valued and supported.

Why it matters: In this environment students will be more likely to take risks and share their thinking. When students share their thinking you are better equipped to explore where misconceptions occur for your current students.  

Strategy 5: Use Daily Formative Assessment.

Daily formative assessments will empower you to identify misconceptions and adjust instructional strategies on the fly. This strategy involves systematically collecting and analyzing data on student performance, and using that data to plan your next steps. To avoid burnout, establish a data analysis routine that does not rely on grading papers every day. 

Why it matters: The daily collecting and analyzing of student data will help you to make infrared predictions about how students will perform on assessments. 

Strategy 6: Include Multiple Representations.

Embrace the various learning styles in your classroom by providing students with the tools they need to succeed. For some students visual models and manipulatives are a necessity because, without these tools, they can not “see” the math. For other students, they need real-world examples to ground their thinking. 

Why it matters: This strategy enhances comprehension, instills a sense of flexibility in mathematical reasoning, and promotes the concrete understanding of abstract mathematical ideas.

Strategy 7: Borrow Approaches from Literacy.

One of the best things math teachers can do is collaborate with colleagues from the Language Arts Department. These colleagues can provide insights into how you might foster a culture of precision and clarity in mathematical communication within your classroom. 

Why it matters: This strategy will help you design learning activities that develop student language skills and enhance their ability to engage in mathematical discourse.

Strategy 8: Ask “How did you decide?”

The simple yet powerful question "How did you decide?" is intertwined with many of the approaches we have discussed above. This question encourages students to articulate their thought processes. To incorporate this effectively, model appropriate responses to this question during class discussions. Doing so will prompt students to reflect on their decision-making processes and instill a habit of metacognitive awareness.

Why it matters: When used in a class discussion, you can challenge students to analyze the efficiency of mathematical approaches, allowing them to understand why common algorithms work. 

The eight strategies above can be implemented at any point in the school year and will help to elevate the quality of math instruction students receive. I invite you to explore and implement these strategies into your daily practice. I would love to hear how you put your personal and professional spin on each strategy! 

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