Proactive Mathematics Interventions, Grades 2-5

Priming for Success Through Engaging Tasks and Purposeful Design

With this new book, Karp, Fennell, Kobett, Andrews, Suh, and Knighten have delivered an innovative strengths-based intervention approach that focuses on priming rather than remediation. The structures they have designed around co-planning, assessment, and accessible tasks can provide much-needed clarity to the complex task of math intervention work. This work takes the idea of building from student strengths and makes it tangible. I am so excited to see schools and districts implement this work!

What a great resource for supporting interventions! One of the key features of this book is that it provides a detailed process for planning interventions that will assist students in accessing grade-level content. The tasks provided are especially helpful in using rich tasks that engage students as they make sense of mathematics.

This book transforms mathematics intervention! It skillfully weaves together research-based practices of mathematics education and special education to empower educators and their students to be active doers of mathematics. The innovative, strengths-based approach positions all students to be successful by promoting student agency, educator collaboration, and a solid mathematical foundation. This is a must-have resource for all as it offers a new way of thinking about mathematics intervention to drive much-needed change. 

Proactive Mathematics Interventions is a game changer! The authors masterfully combine research-based frameworks and instruction to create a coherent picture on how to effectively implement interventions. This must-read book provides clear examples, detailed descriptions, and numerous resources. 

This book reminds us that effective intervention isn’t about fixing kids. It’s about fixing systems. With deep respect for teachers and students, the authors share a proactive, strengths-based approach full of practical strategies that help students engage, reason, and see themselves as capable, confident math learners. It's a must-have for every educator. 

Proactive Mathematics Interventions advocates for rethinking our traditional deficit approaches to intervention and provides a vision for a strengths-based approach that uncovers and builds upon what students knows and can do in time for them to shine within their classrooms. In addition to advocating for a priming approach, this resource supports educators to enact this instructional shift with tasks and activities that revisit and strengthen foundational understandings while proactively positioning every student to thrive with grade-level content.

As mathematics specialists, we're always looking for ways to enhance our support for both teachers and students. Proactive Mathematics Interventions, Grades 2-5 offers precisely that shift – moving us from a reactive stance to a proactive one within our mathematics and MTSS frameworks. This resource champions the development of a more robust system of support, one centered on a truly transformational approach to mathematics intervention. This book emphasizes a strengths-based perspective, where we leverage the insights gained from formative assessment to guide students in 'doing the math' through thoughtfully chosen, purposeful tasks. This book is an invaluable tool to lead the way in fostering a more proactive and effective mathematics learning environment.

This book will have a permanent spot on your professional bookshelf, but it will hardly ever actually be on the bookshelf. It makes the path for shifting from reactive interventions to proactive interventions clear and the authors provide a comprehensive plan to get there. The task resources are robust and the critical discussion of how to transform a system will impact students for years. 

Proactive Mathematics Interventions shifts the focus from remediation to readiness with a powerful “priming” approach. Designed for grades 2–5, it offers timely, targeted strategies grounded in math progressions. With practical tasks and clear guidance, this resource equips teachers, coaches, and leaders to support all learners—especially those who struggle—before they fall behind. A must-have for proactive, meaningful math instruction.