Math Fact Fluency


Book Description

This approach to teaching basic math facts, grounded in years of research, will transform students' learning of basic facts and help them become more confident, adept, and successful at math. Mastering the basic facts for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division is an essential goal for all students. Most educators also agree that success at higher levels of math hinges on this fundamental skill. But what's the best way to get there? Are flash cards, drills, and timed tests the answer? If so, then why do students go into the upper elementary grades (and beyond) still counting on their fingers or experiencing math anxiety? What does research say about teaching basic math facts so they will stick? In Math Fact Fluency, experts Jennifer Bay-Williams and Gina Kling provide the answers to these questions—and so much more. This book offers everything a teacher needs to teach, assess, and communicate with parents about basic math fact instruction, including The five fundamentals of fact fluency, which provide a research-based framework for effective instruction in the basic facts. Strategies students can use to find facts that are not yet committed to memory. More than 40 easy-to-make, easy-to-use games that provide engaging fact practice. More than 20 assessment tools that provide useful data on fact fluency and mastery. Suggestions and strategies for collaborating with families to help their children master the basic math facts. Math Fact Fluency is an indispensable guide for any educator who needs to teach basic math facts.




Mastering the Basic Math Facts in Multiplication and Division


Book Description

Presents an approach to teaching basic math facts to young students, featuring instructional strategies, tips, and classroom activities. Includes a CD-ROM with customizable activities, templates, recording sheets, and teacher tools.




Automaticity of Basic Math Facts


Book Description

Despite a concerted effort by policy makers and educators to improve U.S. math education, student math scores remain unimpressive. In exploring possible reasons for this, this study examined the role that basic math fact automaticity plays in math success, where automaticity is defined as the ability to recall facts with speed and accuracy at an unconscious level. Information processing theory posits that automaticity frees up cognitive resources for more complex processes, and should therefore be an important part of learning math. To investigate this, basic multiplication fact fluency levels of a group of college students were determined by a timed math probe. These same students also completed a short survey assessing their attitudes and high school math achievements. The students' levels of fluency as demonstrated on the math probe were then compared to their reported math attitudes and achievements. Relationships between levels of fluency and math attitude and achievement were noted. The most interesting finding, however, was the lack of basic multiplication fact automaticity in 90% of the college students tested. The implications of this lack of automaticity present an interesting subject for future study.




Figuring Out Fluency in Mathematics Teaching and Learning, Grades K-8


Book Description

Because fluency practice is not a worksheet. Fluency in mathematics is more than adeptly using basic facts or implementing algorithms. Real fluency involves reasoning and creativity, and it varies by the situation at hand. Figuring Out Fluency in Mathematics Teaching and Learning offers educators the inspiration to develop a deeper understanding of procedural fluency, along with a plethora of pragmatic tools for shifting classrooms toward a fluency approach. In a friendly and accessible style, this hands-on guide empowers educators to support students in acquiring the repertoire of reasoning strategies necessary to becoming versatile and nimble mathematical thinkers. It includes: "Seven Significant Strategies" to teach to students as they work toward procedural fluency. Activities, fluency routines, and games that encourage learning the efficiency, flexibility, and accuracy essential to real fluency. Reflection questions, connections to mathematical standards, and techniques for assessing all components of fluency. Suggestions for engaging families in understanding and supporting fluency. Fluency is more than a toolbox of strategies to choose from; it’s also a matter of equity and access for all learners. Give your students the knowledge and power to become confident mathematical thinkers.




Math Running Records in Action


Book Description

In this new book from popular consultant and bestselling author Dr. Nicki Newton, you’ll discover how to use Math Running Records to assess students’ basic fact fluency and increase student achievement. Like a GPS, Math Running Records pinpoint exactly where students are in their understanding of basic math facts and then outline the next steps toward comprehensive fluency. This practical book introduces a research-based framework to assess students’ thinking and move them toward becoming confident, proficient, flexible mathematicians with a robust sense of numbers. Topics include: Learning how often to administer Math Running Records and how to strategically introduce them into your existing curriculum; Analyzing, and interpreting Math Running Records for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; Using the data gathered from Math Running Records to implement evidence-based, research-driven instruction. Evaluating students’ speed, accuracy, flexibility, and efficiency to help them attain computational fluency; Each chapter offers a variety of charts and tools that you can use in the classroom immediately, and the strategies can easily be adapted for students at all levels of math fluency across grades K-8. Videos of sample running records are also available for download at https://guidedmath.wordpress.com/math-running-records-videos. Blackline masters are available on the Running Records Dropbox at https://bit.ly/3gnggIq




Guided Math Workshop


Book Description

This must-have resource helps teachers successfully plan, organize, implement, and manage Guided Math Workshop. It provides practical strategies for structure and implementation to allow time for teachers to conduct small-group lessons and math conferences to target student needs. The tested resources and strategies for organization and management help to promote student independence and provide opportunities for ongoing practice of previously mastered concepts and skills. With sample workstations and mathematical tasks and problems for a variety of grade levels, this guide is sure to provide the information that teachers need to minimize preparation time and meet the needs of all students.







The Best of Times: Math Strategies that Multiply


Book Description

NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Greg Tang takes on the times tables, teaching kids innovative ways to multiply numbers and derive answers WITHOUT memorization. Four is very fast to do when you multiply by 2.Here's a little good advice --please just always double twice!BEST OF TIMES gives kids an intuitive understanding of multiplication, encouraging them to arrive at answers on their own rather than memorizing the times tables. A child who can multiply by two, for instance, can multiply by four and even eight! Likewise, times six builds on times two and times three.With his common-sense approach, Greg Tang encourages kids to solve problems creatively, building both their skills and their confidence.




Mastering the Basic Math Facts in Addition and Subtraction


Book Description

"When math fact instruction is thoughtful and strategic, it results in more than a student's ability to quickly recall a fact; it cultivates reflective students who have a greater understanding of numbers and a flexibility of thinking that allows them to understand connections between mathematical ideas." -Susan O'Connell and John SanGiovanni In today's math classroom, we want children to do more than just memorize math facts. We want them to understand the math facts they are being asked to memorize. Our goal is automaticity and understanding; without both, our children will never build the foundational skills needed to do more complex math. Both the Common Core State Standards and the NCTM Principles and Standards emphasize the importance of understanding the concepts of addition and subtraction. Susan O'Connell and John SanGiovanni provide insights into the teaching of basic math facts, including a multitude of instructional strategies, teacher tips, and classroom activities to help students master their facts while strengthening their understanding of numbers, patterns, and properties. Designed to be easily integrated into your existing math program, Mastering the Basic Math Facts: emphasizes the big ideas that provide a focus for math facts instruction broadens your repertoire of instructional strategies provides dozens of easy-to-implement activities to support varied levels of learners stimulates your reflection related to teaching math facts. Through investigations, discussions, visual models, children's literature, and hands-on explorations, students develop an understanding of the concepts of addition and subtraction, and through engaging, interactive practice achieve fluency with basic facts. Whether you're introducing your students to basic math facts, reviewing facts, or providing intervention for struggling students, this book will provide you with insights and activities to simplify this complex, but critical, component of math teaching. Extensive online resources include customizable activities, templates, recording sheets, and teacher tools (such as multiplication tables, game templates, and assessment options) to simplify your planning and preparation. Over 450 pages of reproducible forms are included in English and Spanish translations. A study guide for Professional Learning Communities and book clubs is also included. Discover more resources for developing mathematical thinking at Heinemann.com/Math




Best Instructional Procedures in Reaching Automaticity in Math Facts


Book Description

The failure to learn basic math facts to automaticity is the most common indicator of math difficulties. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) supports the development of automaticity in math facts beginning in the primary grade levels. Three levels of knowledge need to be acquired to reach automaticity in basic math facts -conceptual, procedural, and declarative knowledge. Declarative knowledge of math facts is achieved when facts can be retrieved from memory without hesitation. This work examines the research-base for instruction to help students achieve declarative knowledge in basic math facts. Effective instructional components include delivery systems (i.e., close proximity one-on-one tutoring, computers, and peer tutoring techniques), instructional procedures (i.e., use of strategies, constant time-delay, and missed fact re-representation) and progress monitoring techniques (i.e., explicit timing and graphing). The two programs that use these components, Mastering Math Facts and FASTT Math, are also described.