What is Math Fluency?
- Math fact fluency is the ability to recall the answers to basic math facts automatically and quickly. Fact fluency is gained by practice and repetition. Mastering math facts is a goal for educators and parents alike, and makes learning additional math concepts a more successful process.
How to Recognize Struggling Learners:
- Students struggling with Math Fluency often display:
- weakness in computation skills (example: addition errors and misreading signs)
- difficulty moving from concrete to abstract (example: transferring knowledge outside of the math classroom)
- difficulty making connections (example: knowing the symbol for 14 means 1 ten and 4 ones)
- difficulty understanding and reading math vocabulary and language
- Signs of Fluency Struggle:
- Output Difficulties: A student with problems in output may
- be unable to recall basic math facts, procedures, rules, or formulas
- be very slow to retrieve facts or pursue procedures
- have difficulties maintaining precision during mathematical work
- have difficulties with handwriting that slow down written work or make it hard to read later
- have difficulty remembering previously encountered patterns
- forget what he or she is doing in the middle of a math problem
- Output Difficulties: A student with problems in output may
Math Disabilities Associated with Fluency:
- Math is often overlooked for Special Education referral. Reading is often the first area of concern. Students who struggle with Math may have Dyscalculia and ADHD.
- Dyscalculia is a difficulty in learning and understanding math, such as difficulty in understanding numbers, learning how to manipulate numbers, math operations, mathematical calculations and learning facts in mathematics.
- ADHD- Students with ADHD have higher rates of math disabilities than students without ADHD; inattention, organization, working memory, and self-monitoring.
- Specific Math Learning Disability- MD
How Can We Help? Instructional Strategies:
- Frequent Math Lessons and Small Group Instruction
- Problem of the Day
- Math Facts in a Flash Daily Practice (5-10 minutes)
- Timed Math Fluency Practice
- Math Boxes
- Skip Counting – skip count in line, passing a ball around in a circle
- Around the World Math Facts
- Basketball Math Facts (shoot the ball if you get them correct)
- Variety of tools- Flash cards, math manipulatives, Base Ten Blocks, counters, worksheets, technology- computer, iPad, calculators
- Engaging Lessons with Movement
- Songs to memorize facts
- Incentives: ice cream scoop for every set of facts memorized with an ice cream party at the end
- Dice Games
- Variety of tools for operations- number line, hundreds chart, fingers, blocks
Accommodations:
- Allow extra time on tests/quizzes (if not a timed test)
- Frequent check-ins to make sure students are on track
- Provide a visual of the steps for problems
- Provide examples of each type of problem- visual examples
- Have students answer in multiple ways: dry erase boards, choral answer, thumbs up, iPads, index cards, computer programs
- provide preferential seating
- provide a quiet work area in or outside the general education classroom
Modifications:
- Reduce the number of problems assigned
- Math Fluency is timed- increase time to practice in the beginning- slowly decrease time as practice increases
- Allow calculators when facts are not being tested
- highlighters to remind students where to begin- (example: step one: add your ones)
- timer can be visible or invisible for anxious students
- provide multiplication table and/or hundreds chart, number lines when needed
- oral testing if writing is an issue
- small group pull-out or instruction
Additional Resources:
- Math Facts in a Flash- Renaissance Learning
- Moby Max- Math Fact Fluency www.mobymax.com
- www.xtramath.com
- www.sheppardsoftware.com
- Rocket Ship Math- Timed Daily Practice
- Fact Fluency for Multiplication: https://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/Page/46597
- Fact Fluency for Addition and Subtraction: https://schoolwires.henry.k12.ga.us/Page/21865
- Math Learning Disabilities- http://www.ldonline.org/article/5896/
- Math Teacher’s Guide to Helping Struggling Students- https://www.additudemag.com/math-accommodations-for-children-with-adhd-or-dyscalculia/
- Building Math Skills with ADHD- https://www.verywellmind.com/adhd-and-math-skills-20804
- Strategies and Interventions to Support Students with Mathematics Disabilities- https://council-for-learning-disabilities.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Math_Disabilities_Support.pdf