Mastering Math Facts

October 12, 2012 | Posted in: Class Updates

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One of the biggest factors to affect a student’s math performance is his or her mastery of basic math facts – addition, subtraction, multiplication, and (later on) division.  When you hear/read me talking/writing about “mastering math facts,” I’m not referring to an ability to calculate what 7×6 equals (for example).  Rather, I’m looking for students to know their facts so that they can recall that seven times six equals 42 (without having to calculate the answer).  Teachers call that fact-recall skill “automaticity.”

As we focus on higher-level skills in school, the idea of memorizing things (whether math facts, spelling words, capitals, or anything else) can seem like needless busy work that fails to develop critical thinking skills.  However, these basic skills are of tremendous importance in creating the foundation for the higher level skills.  For example, when students learn to multiply larger numbers, an ongoing difficulty with the basic facts can pose a significant challenge and lead to ongoing frustration for a fourth grader.  (I speak from first hand experience.  I always tell students about my experience moving from New Jersey (where we were learning the x3 facts when I left) to Connecticut (where they were already on the x8 facts) and how that gap caused me to have an ongoing difficulty with math because I always felt like I was playing a perpetual game of catch up.)

In third grade, students were assessed on their multiplication facts and were given individualized, timed fact quizzes so that each student could proceed at his or her own pace.  We are taking the same approach in fourth grade this year.  (All classes are measuring automaticity in the same way.)  Students all started with addition and subtraction quizzes.  To proceed to the next level (in this case, multiplying by 2), students need to score 90% or better on the three minute timed test.  Fact quizzes will go home regularly (you can expect to see the older ones coming home early next week) so that you can monitor your student’s progress.  Some parents may be surprised when they see that your son or daughter scored, perhaps, only a 60% on simple addition and subtraction.  Remember, this isn’t just a measure of a student’s ability to compute math problems but also their ability to do it rapidly.  Math facts are one of the few times where speed really is key.

Looking for some fun ways to have your fourth grader practice his or her math facts at home?  Look for the Math Fact Practice link on the left-hand sidebar.  Please email me if you stumble on some other resources that you think I should add!