No More Math Fact Frenzy

by M. Colleen Cruz, Connie S. Henry, Douglas H. Clements

"Pencils ready? On your mark...get set...begin!" Remember flipping over a page full of unrelated fact problems and scrambling to answer as many as possible in a minute? Remember trying to memorize math facts by rote? Many of our children are still asked to learn this way-even though research shows this approach can harm student learning more than help. Explore an effective, research-based approach to math fact instruction. No More Math Fact Frenzy examines this research and concludes that our approaches to math fact instruction are often ineffective. We want our students to know their math facts. We know they're better mathematicians when they're comfortable with them. Yet the ways we ask students to learn them in many classrooms remain unproductive. To address this, the authors outline three phases for helping students master their math facts. Then they share recommendations for all three activities and games that build number sense, strategies that lead to flexible thinking, and ways to create and sustain a classroom culture of fluency. This kind of teaching helps students learn their math facts more successfully-and with less stress and anxiety. "When we emphasize foundation concepts and reasoning strategies as the path towards building authentic fluency, students can develop their number sense, articulate their thinking, and understand the reasoning of others." -Linda Ruiz Davenport, Connie S. Henry, Douglas H. Clements, and Julie Sarama

112 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2019

About the author

In addition to being the author of The Unstoppable Writing Teacher, M. Colleen Cruz is the author of several other titles for teachers, including Independent Writing and A Quick Guide to Helping Struggling Writers, as well as the author of the young adult novel Border Crossing, a Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award Finalist. Colleen was a classroom teacher in general education and inclusive settings before joining the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project where she is Director of Innovation. Colleen presently supports schools, teachers and their students nationally and internationally as a literacy consultant.

Reviews

[Tracy Jaconette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need a reason to stop giving timed math tests?? Here is a handy volume to get you started.

[Chris Heim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably a more appropriate book for someone who hasn't been an educator for over 20 years and been fortunate enough to ride the wave of expanding children's mathematical thinking that has really reached a crescendo in education circles today. The book is very much about prioritizing the development of number sense as the means for helping children solve math facts, and giving them ample time to practice facts strategically so that they become learned in that context rather than simply via rote memorization. Strategy and activity examples are provided for those whose mathematical awakenings are more nascent. It is also a quick read, at a sensible 87 pages.

[Alyssa Rivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is strongly recommended to any teacher struggling to teach math facts! So many good points and recommendations. It really challenges how we were taught math facts and offers a great mindset change.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, lots of practical ideas to support the pedagogy.