Fluency

It's like comprehension in Literacy.  Student's also need number comprehension (understanding the why and how of numbers)!

Fluency:  a deep understanding of mathematical concepts, which results in the facility to efficiently and accurately access, compare, and apply strategies, knowledge and skills in a variety of contexts

  

****In other words, fluency is... 

-efficiency (in thinking, not getting bogged down in the math)

-accuracy (does it make sense)

-flexibility (choose appropriate strategies, solve with one strategy and check with another)

-how we get to understanding

Fluency is not just...

-speed
-being able to pass a timed fact test

-automaticity

-memorizing facts for quick recall

*They are part of fluency but not all of what TRUE math fluency is.

Common Core Fluency Standards

• Kindergarten (K.OA.5):  +/- within 5
• First Grade (1.OA.6):    +/- within 10
• Second Grade (2.OA.2):  +/- within 20 (mental strategies)
• Second Grade (2.NBT.5):  +/- within 100 (strategies)
• Third Grade (3.OA.7):  multiply/divide within 100 (strategies)
• Third Grade (3.NBT.2):  +/- within 1000 (strategies)
• Fourth Grade (4.NBT.4):  +/- multi-digit whole numbers
• Fifth Grade (5. NBT.5):  multi-digit multiplication

• K and 1st:  teach horizontal equations only, focus on the context not the symbols
• 2nd & 3rd: introduce the vertical algorithm (not regrouping)
• 4th grade should be the first time to introduce the standard algorithm for solving problems.  Check the standards!
• Be selective with homework in K-3 so parents are not teaching it at home.  It can do more harm to number sense and fluency in the long run because math becomes procedural and not about quantity or non-count-by-ones strategies that lead to mental math!

Think about it:  Pick 4 whole numbers (ex. 27, 3, 14, 36).  Not one of the numbers is further than 2 more or 2 less than 0 or 5.  Our kids MUST become fluent in numbers to 5 and 10.