Fraction Face Off
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy can help address educational disparities. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program basics
- Fractions are an important skill to master before moving to more advanced math
- Curriculum helps fourth-graders who are struggling to understand fraction problems
- Program includes thirty-six lessons, taught three times a week for 12 weeks
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Strong (second-highest tier)
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Strong (second-highest tier)
Ranked as having the second-highest level of evidence by the U.S. Department of Education What Works Clearinghouse
Target population
Elementary school-aged children
Program cost
$40 per print or electronic material set
Implementation locations
- Not available
Dates active
Not available
Outcomes and impact
- May increase student outcomes in geometry and measurement, number and operations, and general mathematics achievement
- Improved geometry and measurement outcomes by an average of 33 percentile points
- Improved number and operations outcomes by an average of 31 percentile points
- Improved general mathematics achievement outcomes by an average of 24 percentile points
Keys to successful implementation
- Ensure students are developing deep comprehension. Avoid teaching math shortcuts that yield the correct answer without requiring students to understand the underlying concepts.
- Ask questions that uncover the mental approaches students take when working through exercises. Correct common misconceptions as quickly as possible so they will not become ingrained.
- Train teachers to internalize the teaching script; they should know the scripts thoroughly but never read directly from them during class time.
- Provide extensive teacher training to ensure familiarity with the Fraction Face Off approach and methodology, along with guidance on corrective feedback.
- Encourage on-task behaviors and accurate work with a rewards-based behavioral management system.
- Implement the program for small group settings of 2-8 students. A full classroom version is currently under development.
