Number Rockets is a structured, paid Tier 2 math intervention program designed specifically for first-grade students who are not meeting grade-level math expectations despite strong core classroom instruction. Delivered in small groups by trained tutors, Number Rockets builds the foundational arithmetic skills that struggling students need to catch up and keep pace with their peers.
Number Rockets uses a Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) instructional sequence — one of the most well-supported approaches in evidence-based math intervention research. Students begin with hands-on, physical materials to build conceptual understanding, then move to visual representations, and finally to abstract numbers and procedures. This progression ensures students develop genuine understanding of math concepts rather than memorizing steps without meaning. The program's ultimate goal is math fact fluency grounded in that conceptual foundation.
Number Rockets is designed to run alongside — not replace — a student's regular math instruction. Key details:
The small group size is intentional. Research on Tier 2 math intervention consistently shows that groups of 2 to 5 students allow tutors to provide targeted feedback and close skill gaps far more efficiently than whole-class instruction.
Number Rockets is best suited for first-grade students who are falling behind in early math despite receiving solid Tier 1 classroom instruction. It fits within an MTSS or RTI framework as a Tier 2 supplemental intervention — meaning it is additional support, not a replacement for core math class.
Grade level; First grade
MTSS tier; Tier 2CostPaid
Group size2–3 students
Session length40 minutes, daily
Program length17 weeks / 63 sessions
Delivered by; Trained tutors (retired or substitute teachers)
Instructional approach; CRA (Concrete-Representational-Abstract)