Mastering Math Facts

Mastering Math Facts

Mastering Math Facts is a structured program for sequential practice of math facts. It can be used as a core program to support the mastery of basic math facts or as an intervention to support students needing extra help learning the basic math facts. Successful practice on math facts requires that students practice and learn a few facts at a time so that they can simply remember or memorize the answers. Facts in Mastering Math Facts are introduced in sets of two and their reverses. The program is structured the same way for all four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication,and division) so teachers can implement a simple daily routine that can be followed all year.

Quicker learners can move onto master higher operations, e.g., division, while slower students proceed at their own rate without disrupting the routine. Each day’s routine practice should take no more than six or seven minutes of class time. The program’s daily component consists of one-page practice sheets lettered A-Z. The top half of each page gives practice focused on 2 facts and their reverses. Then the bottom half is a timed test on all the facts learned thus far. If the student does not pass, s/he repeats the page again the next day. If the student passes 40 problems correct in one minute, s/he goes on to the next page.The next page adds only two more facts and their reverses to the ones already mastered. This gradual accumulation of small numbers of facts to be learned each time isthe unique feature that makes work in Mastering Math Facts so successful and motivating for students.

The routine is the same the following day: students practice on the top half-focused on the facts learned thus far, then take a timed test on the bottom half. Students record/graph  their efforts on a rocket chart on which they color in lettered squares for each sheet they pass.

There are placement tests for accelerating students into an operation in which they already have some proficiency. Because not all children can write the answers to 40 problems in one minute there is a test of writing speed titled “How fast can you write?”  The results indicate what accommodated goals are appropriate for students who can't write fast enough to answer 40 problems in a minute. Students with such adjusted goals are expected to always meet or beat their previous best to pass.

Within each operation there are also ten progress-monitoring tests of ALL the facts . Every week or two students take these two minute tests and graph the results on the Graph of My Progress. This enables the teacher and students to keep track of their progress in memorizing these facts.

 

Students should be practicing their facts EVERY night!

Mastering Math Facts is a structured program for sequential practice of math facts. It can be used as a core program to support the mastery of basic math facts or as an intervention to support students needing extra help learning the basic math facts. Successful practice on math facts requires that students practice and learn a few facts at a time so that they can simply remember or memorize the answers. Facts in Mastering Math Facts are introduced in sets of two and their reverses. The program is structured the same way for all four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication,and division) so teachers can implement a simple daily routine that can be followed all year.

Quicker learners can move onto master higher operations, e.g., division, while slower students proceed at their own rate without disrupting the routine. Each day’s routine practice should take no more than six or seven minutes of class time. The program’s daily component consists of one-page practice sheets lettered A-Z. The top half of each page gives practice focused on 2 facts and their reverses. Then the bottom half is a timed test on all the facts learned thus far. If the student does not pass, s/he repeats the page again the next day. If the student passes 40 problems correct in one minute, s/he goes on to the next page.The next page adds only two more facts and their reverses to the ones already mastered. This gradual accumulation of small numbers of facts to be learned each time isthe unique feature that makes work in Mastering Math Facts so successful and motivating for students.

The routine is the same the following day: students practice on the top half-focused on the facts learned thus far, then take a timed test on the bottom half. Students record/graph  their efforts on a rocket chart on which they color in lettered squares for each sheet they pass.

There are placement tests for accelerating students into an operation in which they already have some proficiency. Because not all children can write the answers to 40 problems in one minute there is a test of writing speed titled “How fast can you write?”  The results indicate what accommodated goals are appropriate for students who can't write fast enough to answer 40 problems in a minute. Students with such adjusted goals are expected to always meet or beat their previous best to pass.

Within each operation there are also ten progress-monitoring tests of ALL the facts . Every week or two students take these two minute tests and graph the results on the Graph of My Progress. This enables the teacher and students to keep track of their progress in memorizing these facts.

 

Students should be practicing their facts EVERY night!