Building Blocks for Math has positive effects on preschool mathematics achievement according to the WWC¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causalr2·q3·i2medium
Currency · newest study 2007 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i2 Two randomized controlled trials meeting WWC evidence standards showed statistically significant positive effects of Building Blocks for Math on mathematics achievement, with a domain-average effect size of 1.07 and an average improvement index of +36 percentile points. → SRA Real Math Building Blocks PreK 2007
Evidence¶
SRA Real Math Building Blocks PreK 2007¶
SRA Real Math Building Blocks PreK. (2007). WWC Intervention Report. What Works Clearinghouse, U.S. Department of Education. http://www.gse.buffalo.edu/org/buildingblocks/
q3 · i2 · causal · r2
WWC synthesis of two randomized controlled trials (Clements & Sarama 2006, 28 teachers/202 children; 2007, 4 teachers/53-61 children) in New York State preschools. The WWC rated the intervention as having "positive effects on math", with domain-average effect size 1.07 and improvement indices from +27 to +42 percentile points.
"The average improvement index for math is +36 percentile points across the two studies, with a range of +27 to +42 per-centile points across findings."
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- In a 2006 randomized trial, Building Blocks for Math significantly outperformed business-as-usual on the Early Mathematics Assessment — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- In a 28-classroom cluster randomized trial, Building Blocks raised end-of-intervention REMA scores with an effect size of 1.07 (improvement index +36) — related
- Building Blocks has a potentially positive effect on preschool mathematics achievement, with a pooled effect size of 0.58 across three studies meeting WWC standards — related
- In a large-scale 106-classroom cluster randomized trial, Building Blocks raised end-of-intervention REMA scores with an effect size of 0.48 (improvement index +18) — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Pre-K Mathematics improves preschool children's mathematics achievement, with a WWC positive effects rating and strong evidence tier — related
- In a 2007 randomized trial, Building Blocks for Math significantly improved geometry but not number outcomes — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
building-blocks-prek-positive-effects-math |
title |
Building Blocks for Math has positive effects on preschool mathematics achievement according to the WWC |
description |
Building Blocks for Math has positive effects on preschool mathematics achievement according to the WWC |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2007 |
source_checked |
2026-10-20 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-07 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — sra-real-math-building-blocks-prek-2007 |
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