The Research Base for Direct Instruction Mathematics Programs

The following is a description of the research base for Direct Instruction mathematics programs, specifically DISTAR Arithmetic I and II, Corrective Mathematics, and Connecting Math Concepts. Direct Instruction mathematics programs have been used successfully to guide students’learning ofeverything from basic operations, strategies, and applications to more complex operations throughout their various levels. Evidence of this can be seen in over 30 years of published research in a wide variety of settings (Adams & Engelmann, 1996). Studies included in this review were selected using the First Search, ERIC, Psych INFO, Education ABS, and ProQuest databases. Descriptors included the following: Direct Instruction, DISTAR Arithmetic, DISTAR Arithmetic I, DISTAR Arithmetic II, direct instruction, direct teaching, direct verbal instruction, explicit instruction, mathematics instruction, Corrective Mathematics, and Connecting Math Concepts.