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Inside My Classroom

Building fluency with basic math facts

New York Teacher
Una-Belinda Titus, 4th grade math teacher at PS 284 in Brooklyn has her students solve a basic math problem to figure out and write the day's date in their notebooks.
Jonathan Fickies

Each morning, scholars solve an addition or subtraction problem to figure out aCan we switch out one of the “scholars” for “students?” I THINK SCHOLARS IS FINE HERE. I HEAR EDUCATORS USE IT, AND I DON’T THINK ITS USE IN THIS QUOTE ADVERSELY IMPACTS READABILITY. Also, let’s go with photo 1 instead of 4 as the equation adds to the actual date of our publication and it provides more textural context -- DARAnd write the day’s date in their notebooks. This is part of our daily routine and helps build fluency with basic math facts. Many of my scholars struggle with fact fluency, so this gives them consistent practice to strengthen their speed, accuracy and confidence. Those who need extra support have access to tools like a number line to help them work through the problem. After winter break, I switch the routine to multiplication and division facts to continue building that fluency and increase the level of challenge. This routine helps get their brains warmed up and ready for the day’s math lesson. It also gives them practice with concepts like 365 days and 52 weeks in a year, which connects to real-world math and skills they may see on state tests.

— Una-Bellelinda Titus, 4th-grade math teacher, PS 284, Brooklyn

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