Practice Guide Summaries
The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) publishes practice guides to share rigorous evidence and expert guidance on addressing education-related challenges. Each practice guide is developed by a panel of experts, and each recommendation is connected to supporting evidence. In collaboration with REL Central at Marzano Research, the Nebraska Department of Education has developed a series of condensed practice guides for use by Nebraska educators. The purpose of these guides is to offer evidence-based, actionable recommendations for high-quality mathematics instruction. For a full listing of practice guides, please visit https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/PracticeGuides.
IMPROVING MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM SOLVING GRADES 4 THROUGH 8
Prepare problems and use them in whole-class instruction
Assist students in monitoring and reflecting on the problem-solving process
Teach students how to use visual representations
Expose students to multiple problem-solving strategies
Help students recognize and articulate math concepts and notation
TEACHING MATH TO YOUNG CHILDREN
Teach number and operations using a developmental progression
Teach geometry, patterns, measurement, and data analysis using a developmental progression
Use progress monitoring to ensure that math instruction builds on what each child knows
Teach children to view and describe their world mathematically
Dedicate time each day to teaching math, and integrate math instruction throughout the school day