Math Facts Overview

The Purpose of Math Facts

• When students master their math facts, they can quickly, accurately, and flexibly solve more complex problems. 
• Rather than simply insisting on rote memorization, your job as a teacher of math facts is to help scholars see the relationships between facts, which in turn encourages fluency and flexibility. See below for details on recommended grade-level goals.

Our Approach To Teaching Math Facts

Rather than ask kids to memorize facts, we purposefully teach them to use what they know to solve new problems. For example, if Unit 1 focuses on doubles facts (2+2), then Unit 2 will then focus on doubles + 1 (2+3). This helps students build their reasoning skills and tackle increasingly complex skills and tasks as the year goes on. 

End of year goal- topics covered: 

• Grade 1: Know from memory all sums and differences within 10 
• Grade 2: Know from memory all sums and differences within 20
• Grade 3: Know from memory all sums and differences within 20 and all multiplication and division facts within 100, with factors/divisors 0-10
• Grade 4: Know from memory all sums and differences within 20 and all multiplication and division facts within 144, with factors/divisors 0-12 

Preparing to Teach Math Facts

• Step 1: Study the Scope and Sequence of Facts
  Know the scope of facts scholars are expected to master. Study the focus for each month. This will help you press scholars appropriately as they struggle or master particular fact families. 
• Step 2: Understand the Fact Relationships
  Part of math facts is helping scholars recognize the relationships between numbers and within fact families. Know these! Question and probe scholars to make connections during fluency drills and fact reviews.
• Step 3: Review Scholars’ Goals
  Set and study scholar goals regularly. This will help you press scholars strategically through cold calling during fluency drills, daily practice, and weekly quizzes.

Parent Investment
Parents must understand the why behind mastering math facts — check out this letter you can send home to build investment and understanding early in the school year. A huge part of success in math facts is at-home practice. Scholars and parents are expected to practice math facts daily. Encourage parents to use flash cards and practice oral drills. Engage scholars and parents by consistently setting goals with scholars and holding scholars accountable to those goals. Make sure parents know scholars’ goals and have a regular opportunity to review scholars’ practice work and quizzes.