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Category Archives: Fact Fluency
Geometric Subitizing: A Different Kind of Number Talk
These Geometric Subitizing Cards have been in beta the past two years. I asked our buddy Joe Schwartz to take them for a test drive last spring and he reported back. Joe’s all in. How do they work? Let’s play… Last week I took them for … Continue reading
Not Your Mom’s Flashcards: Conceptual Understanding of Multiplication
What’s the purpose of flashcards? There’s 2 answers I frequently hear and only one I agree with. Answer 1: help kids know/memorize their facts Answer 2: help students build fluency through the automatization of strategy I know how Tracy and many … Continue reading
Posted in 3-5, Estimation, Fact Fluency, Games, Math Tools, Number Sense
Tagged 3rd grade, fact fluency, flash cards, fluency, multiplication, Steve Wyborney
27 Comments
Subitizing to Foster Multiplicative Thinking
Learning basic facts through tricks or a mnemonic song lead students down a path of memorization, not understanding. I previously discussed the idea of conceptual development here. When students practice their multiplication facts, they’re expected to move from concrete to abstract … Continue reading
Posted in 3-5, 6-8, Estimation, Fact Fluency, Games, Math Tools, Number Sense, Strategy Development
13 Comments
Take a Math Trick and Make it Bleed
I hate math tricks and avoid them at all costs. Tina Cardone and many members of #MTBOS are huge advocates of conceptual learning which is how we became blessed with this gem. There’s no denying that students love tricks, especially the … Continue reading
Posted in 3-5, 6-8, Cheese Mover, Estimation, Fact Fluency, Math Tools, Number Sense, Strategy Development, Teacher Content
2 Comments
From Memory and Memorization: There IS a Difference
Question: If you memorize your basic math facts have you learned them? The term from memory is used twice in the K-5 math standards (here & here) and they continue to be the most misunderstood words I encounter each day. The term “from memory” does not suggest that … Continue reading
On Your Marks. Get Set. Number Talks
I’ll start off by saying that I’m definitely not a Number Talks guru and over the past 4 years I’ve learned just enough to be dangerous! The first day of school is less than 12 days away and my summer is … Continue reading
Posted in Estimation, Fact Fluency, Strategy Development, Teacher Content
10 Comments
Flashcards: Weapons of Math Distraction
What did SMP #1 say to the flash card? ……“You suck!” We’ve been using a math reasoning inventory as our benchmark assessment for the past 5 years. In that time there’s been tremendous growth (in small pockets), but unfortunately our struggles continue. This post was inspired by Robert Kaplinsky‘s How Old is … Continue reading
Posted in Cheese Mover, Fact Fluency, Teaching in a Context, Word Problems
6 Comments
Visual Patterns and Functions: How Input/Output Tables Belong in 1st Grade
As part of the #MTBoS 3rd mission we needed to choose a collaborative website and I want to give a huge shout out to @fawnpnguyen and http://www.visualpatterns.org/. I have used her website in the past for developing k-2 lessons and if … Continue reading
Posted in Fact Fluency, Strategy Development
Tagged Mathematical Practice, Mathematics, Pattern
8 Comments
Underestimating Estimation
Have you ever tried to teach a 3-yr-old how to ride a tricycle? Now take that same thought, with the same 3-yr-old but the tricycle has only one wheel! Crazy right?!?! This is how I expected my students to … Continue reading
What The Fluency?!?!? Time to stop the debate
After reading Dr. Boaler’s post on timed tests and math anxiety http://joboaler.com/timed-tests-and-the-development-of-math-anxiety/, I can’t help but think about the amount of harm we are causing. To automatize? Or to memorize? That is the question! But should there even be a … Continue reading
Posted in Fact Fluency
3 Comments
