Intervention Activities for 1st Grade Math

First-graders must master basic number concepts.

First-graders need a good foundation in basic math skills if they are going to succeed in subsequent grades. Students who are struggling in math need extra help. Often, that help comes in the form of intervention activities designed to catch a student up to the rest of the class, or activities to reinforce concepts that they have not yet mastered. Intervention activities should feature set goals and a way to measure whether those goals for each student are being met.

Number Concepts

Give each student a number line (or stick one on each desk) and show them how to move up and down the number line. This will not only help them with counting, but it will show them why one number is greater than another. Show them that as they move to the right, the numbers become larger. Use the number line to skip count, add and subtract as well. Then, pass out markers such as small plastic discs or jelly beans. Have the students group the beans by certain numbers, such as placing two beans above the number 2, and one bean above the number 1. Have them move the beans over to the number 3 so they can see how numbers combine to make other numbers, and how three beans are more than one bean.

Counting

First-graders need to know how to count to 100, and also how to count by twos, fives and 10s. Help struggling students by creating some activities in centers that reinforce these skills. Place a laminated mat with a grid of numbers up to 100 on a table, and ask the student to use an overhead or dry-erase marker to cross off every other number, starting with one. Then, have them count the remaining numbers loud. Make groups of 10 for counting by 10s out of wooden craft sticks. Glue 10 dried beans onto several craft sticks. Count the beans one at a time, then count by 10s. Do this with groups of five as well.

Addition

Flash cards featuring addition facts make an easy but effective math intervention center. Have the students turn over the flash card, then write and draw the sentences and answer. For example, for a flash card that says 2 + 3, the students should write "2 + 3 = 5" and then draw two things plus three more different things. Or, have a parent volunteer flip over the addition cards, and ask the student to say the answers as quickly as possible. This helps with the memorization of simple addition facts.

Subtraction

The activities in the addition section can be modified for subtraction, but also include some hands-on activities to reinforce the concept of "taking away." Ask a parent volunteer to place five items in front of a student, then take two away. Then, have the student write the math sentence that goes with that illustration (5 - 2 = 3). Or, use a dry-erase board and erase some of the items rather than physically taking them away. Simple worksheets with subtraction math problems are also a good way for students to test for memorization of subtraction math facts. Set the worksheets on a table with a timer and see how many the students can complete when they come to that math center, or do it together as a whole class.

References

• Intervention Central: Helping Teachers to Structure Their Classroom (Tier 1) Data Collection
• Jenny Lind Elementary School: Examples of Math Interventions