Action Research Update

     My initial wondering for my action research study is: What strategy is more effective for student achievement in intervention; teaching four mathematics topics daily for eight weeks or teaching each of the four topics for two weeks over an eight week period?
     This school year, our district is implementing a new math curriculum.  There is also an intervention system that is part of the program, as well as a Tier 3 math program that was purchased for use.  As a result of the decisions made by the K-5 intervention team, I will not be able to complete my research for the planned ten weeks.  Instead, I will completing the study for six weeks. I still believe I will find the answers to my question.
     During the first full week of school (August 25-29) the intervention team began pulling first graders for math intervention.  The students that participate in math intervention are students that were identified for support from last school year.  I gave the five students in the group a pre-test in four different math topic areas (ordering numbers 0-20, making 5 and 10, addition to 5, and subtraction from 5).  Another intervention teacher is helping to teach the two groups of students.  I met with the teacher to determine the different ways and strategies we would teach each skill to the group.
     It was very interesting to analyze the pre-tests.  While taking the making 5 assessment I noticed how difficult this was for all five students in the group.  Because of the difficulty of the task, I chose to only focus on making 5 rather than including making 10.  I then split the students into two different groups; one group of three and a group of two.  There is at least one low level student and one medium/high student in each group.
      During the first week of interventions after giving the pre-tests, Group 1 (three students) will work on all four skills each week.  Group 2 (two students) worked on ordering numbers 0-20.  I noticed that Group 2 was regularly succeeding in the ordering number tasks that were given to them by the end of the week.  I am concerned that the lower of the two students will not remember the skills by the time we do the post-test.
     This coming week, Group 1 will continue to work on all four skills throughout the week.  Group 2 will work on making 5.