Math Intervention Specialist Teacher Academy Katie Lanning Interview with Mrs. Sponable

What is a Math Intervention Specialist? Identifies students who need additional assistance in math to meet grade level expectations. Example: I have a kindergartener that is seven years old and cannot count to ten. I work with them daily. I also work one on one or in small groups to work on basic bath concepts.

How did you get the job? I was asked. Someone must have recommended me, but I have no math degree.

Do you apply your degree in psychology with your job as a math intervention specialist? I use the same concepts for behavioral interventions and apply them to academic interventions.

How does your day go? First thing in the morning I do one on ones with the kids so that they don’t have a foul mood. In the mid day I do small groups based on grade level. Lastly, before I go home, I do data assessment entries. This includes quizes to track progress and identifying more areas of need.

What do you think the importance is to a math intervention specialist? It is important to give lower achieving students the opportunity to succeed. Kids deserve a break, and need a good role model.

If you could go back, would you change your career path? The schedule is not what I want, it is very inconvenient, but I would still choose this job, because I love working with kids.

Can you share an experience you had? The other day, another teacher was chasing a child down the hallway, and the teacher was frantically trying to catch this child. When I saw him, I went up to him very calmly, and say “Hey, watch this” and he came right to me, and we started counting Jenga blocks.

I think sometimes, adults forget how to handle children. If you chase them, they are going to run, but when you stop chasing, they have no where to go. Just calm down and think logically. – Mrs. Sponable