Every student deserves instruction that meets them where they are and helps them grow. In math intervention, one of the most powerful ways to support student success is through assessment and differentiation. Together, they create a responsive learning environment where instruction is guided by real-time insights and tailored to meet the unique needs of students.
What Is Assessment and Differentiation in Math Intervention?
In education, assessment is the process of evaluating a learner’s knowledge, skills, or performance through various methods to inform instruction and measure progress toward learning goals. It includes ongoing observations, formative assessments, and progress monitoring that help educators understand how students are thinking and where they may need additional support or enrichment. This allows teachers to make timely instructional decisions that directly impact student growth.
Differentiation builds on this data by adjusting instruction to match each student’s readiness level. Whether a learner needs to revisit foundational concepts or is ready for a challenge, differentiated instruction ensures that every student is engaged and supported. It’s a flexible, student-centered approach that promotes equity and access in mathematics.
The Research Behind Assessment and Differentiation
Assessment and differentiation are backed by decades of research that show how responsive instruction improves student outcomes in mathematics.
Building Deeper Student Understanding
One of the most powerful things a teacher can do is uncover how students are thinking. When educators ask students to explain their reasoning or solve problems in different ways, they can better understand how their students are processing information. This kind of insight helps educators spot misconceptions early and guide students toward deeper understanding. Research from the National Mathematics Advisory Panel shows that formative assessment benefits learners across all ability levels.
Progress-monitoring also plays a key role in understanding students. According to the Carnegie Council on Advancing Adolescent Literacy and the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities, collecting data on student strengths and weaknesses gives teachers a clearer picture of where each learner stands. When teachers know what students understand, and what they don’t, they can make smarter decisions about how to support them.
Guiding Instruction with Data
When teachers use assessment data to guide instruction, they’re able to respond more effectively to student needs. The WWC Educator’s Practice Guide (Frye et al.) recommends using routine, targeted assessments to track progress and adjust teaching strategies. This kind of intentional data use helps ensure that instruction is timely, relevant, and impactful.
Research from the National Center on Response to Intervention emphasizes the importance of integrating assessment with instruction so that teachers can continuously evaluate and refine their approach. Vaughn and Denton add that progress-monitoring data should be directly linked to instructional resources, making it easier to provide targeted support where it’s needed most.
Personalizing Instruction for Every Learner
No two students learn exactly the same way, and that’s why personalization matters. When teachers tailor instruction to meet individual needs, they create space for every student to thrive. Research by Soisa and Tomlinson highlights that learning improves when instruction is responsive to differences in readiness, interest, and learning style.
Differentiated instruction becomes even more powerful when it’s informed by assessment. The National Mathematics Advisory Panel found that when teachers use assessment data to guide differentiated instruction, the combined effect leads to improved learning outcomes across the board.
Driving Student Growth and Achievement
Assessment is about tracking progress and making sure every student is moving forward. Research consistently shows that ongoing assessment and progress monitoring are essential for documenting growth and informing instruction (National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities; Fisher & Ivey; Torgesen).
Stecker, Fuchs, and Fuchs emphasize that collecting data on student performance helps determine when instruction should be modified to better meet learners’ needs. Baker et al. found that when teachers have access to specific performance data about how each student is performing, student achievement in mathematics improves significantly.
How Do The Math Supports Assessment and Differentiation
In Do the Math, assessment and differentiation are built into the foundation of the program. Every lesson is designed to help educators understand student thinking and respond with targeted instruction that supports growth.
Embedded Assessment That Guides Instruction
From the very beginning, Do The Math provides tools to help teachers monitor student progress. The Beginning-of-Module Assessment establishes a clear benchmark, allowing educators to measure growth over time. Throughout each module, daily formative observations give teachers insight into how students are engaging with the content, making it easy to adjust instruction in the moment.
Every fifth lesson includes Progress Monitoring, which is paired with actionable suggestions for differentiation. These recommendations help educators decide what to do next, whether a student needs additional support or is ready to move ahead. At the end of each module, the Summative Assessment offers a final opportunity to measure growth and plan continued support.
Differentiation That Meets Students Where They Are
With assessment data in hand, Do the Math makes it simple to differentiate instruction. Each module is carefully sequenced to build on prior knowledge while addressing common misconceptions. Teachers receive clear guidance on how to support students at different readiness levels, ensuring that every learner is challenged and supported.
By aligning with research-based best practices, Do The Math helps educators deliver targeted, effective intervention that meets every learner where they are and helps them grow.
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Ready to explore the full research behind Do The Math? Download the Research Foundations: Evidence and Efficacy Report to learn how assessment and differentiation can transform your math intervention program.
Read the Research Foundations Report to learn more.
