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Research shows that fluency with single digit addition and subtraction is a critical component to success in math. Fluency builds confidence in mathematical abilities and helps kids catch on to new concepts easily. In fact, although math fact fluency is a focus in kindergarten and first grade, a child’s level of fluency in these early years is a predictor for success in math for years beyond.
A sixth grader with computational fluency will find working with fractions, decimals, and using simple formulas easier than a child who does not have computational fluency.
To achieve fluency young children must understand the concepts of counting and quantity and get sufficient repetitive practice with addition and subtraction. That is why the first grade curriculum focuses a significant amount of time teaching children the basic math facts of adding and subtracting numbers under ten.
What happens to children who do not get enough practice with their basic math facts?
In the second half of first grade the math curriculum shifts focus to understanding larger numbers. That means children spend less time practicing to build fluency with single digit addition and subtraction. That shift is appropriate for children who get enough practice early on, but many children move on before they are actually ready.
For those who did not get enough practice in school to “just know” their math facts automatically, they should get supplemental practice at home or in our center. Unless they get that repetitive practice, they may end up working at a deficit for years. At Mathnasium, we call these deficits “math gaps.” Math gaps, and especially a math gaps, in fluency are critical because are may undermine a child’s confidence and ability to learn new concepts.
Every child is different and requires a different amount of practice to get a skill. The school curriculum tries to set a timeline that works for most children but it isn’t enough for all kids. Plus, life happens. Kids miss school for various reasons. Kids go to school but get distracted and don’t get their work done. Teachers sometimes have a prolonged absence and kids end up with a substitute who doesn’t understand how to teach math.
Luckily, checking for single digit addition and subtraction fluency is simple. You can ask us to conduct a thorough no-obligation assessment and/or have your child to complete worksheets with addition and subtraction.
Watch your child from a distance as they solve the problems on the worksheets. Their behaviors will indicate their level of fluency.
Indicator: Your child gets many wrong answers. They either guess or use ineffective strategies.
Next Step: Keep working on building their concepts of counting and understanding quantities. They need to understand these concepts before fluency is a reasonable expectation. If your child is in first grade or higher and at a level one, consider a math intervention to help prevent significant problems later.
Indicator: Your child gets several problems incorrect and/or takes a long time (30 seconds per problem) to get the correct answers.
Next step: Your child needs a significant amount of practice to build fluency. Please work with your child on basic math facts on a daily basis. If your child is in second grade or higher and at a level two, consider a math intervention to help prevent significant problems later.
Indicator: Your child quickly and accurately solves single digit addition and subtraction problems using a strategy, such as counting on their fingers.
Next Step. They are on their way to becoming “a fluency master” which will help them for years to come. Keep practicing single digit addition and subtraction on a regular basis to help them succeed in more advanced math. Parents of children in levels two and three may like these articles about how to help build fluency.
Indicator: Your child just knows the correct answers automatically.
Next step: Work on applying that fluency to more advanced math, like two digit addition and subtraction.
Computational fluency does not stop with addition and subtraction. Third and fourth graders need to build fluency with multiplication and division facts. You can apply the same fluency levels and indicators to check for fluency in multiplication and division. Use these worksheets to check for multiplication and division fluency.
If you are concerned about your child’s operational fluency give us a call today. No matter what level of fluency they have now, we can help them become fluency masters. Getting your child on the right path early sets them up for success later.
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