Exploring the Relative Value of Combinations of Instructional Practices in Mathematics Interventions for Grades K–6: An Exploratory Network Meta-Analysis

Effective mathematics interventions are inherently complex, using many instructional practices to optimize learning outcomes for students who struggle to learn mathematics. Over recent decades, a robust evidence base has emerged for these multicomponent interventions. This study presents a narrative review and exploratory network meta-analysis of multicomponent mathematics interventions to identify instructional practice combinations associated with improved outcomes for students with or at risk for disabilities in grades K–6 in the United States. A total of 45 studies comprising 77 experimental contrasts published between 2004 and 2022 were included. Two exploratory network analyses—one examining whole number interventions and one examining rational number interventions—identified specific instructional practice combinations with high probabilities of effectiveness. A complementary narrative review highlights key trends in the use of these practices.