How to Increase Math Fact Fluency

Math fact fluency is developed through lots of practice with effective tools and strategies.  I have found, and research confirms that Derived Fact Strategies (DFS) are highly effective in increasing math fact fluency.

What are Derived Fact Strategies?

Derived facts are math facts that are derived from known facts.  For example, if we know the doubles fact, 3+3=6, then we can derive the answer to 3+4 by using the 3+3 fact and adding 1 to it.  So a derived fact strategy is the mental process of deriving a new fact from a known fact.

 These strategies are also called ‘mental math strategies’ and ‘thinking strategies’.  They all refer to the cognitive process of deriving new understanding by using known information – higher level thinking!

I have seen seen students transform from discouraged learners to confident learners as they master these strategies!  Enjoying math!

I have also seen the flip side.  Teachers clinging to the use of timed tests, traditional flash cards, and pushing the responsibility of math fact fluency onto the parents (much to their frustration) – resulting in frustrated students – even tears – and negative experiences in math for years.

Knowing that lots of practice is crucial for students to become ‘automatic’ in their recall of basic facts, I have invested hundreds of hours creating engaging resources to provide students (and teachers) with effective activities that make practice fun!

Here is a game that provides repeated experience with the

DFS (derived fact strategy):  “Plus 2”.

It is free in my TpT store.

Just click on the picture to download your copy.

Click on the pictures below to see more resources

to help your students flourish

in their math fact fluency.

If you have not tried teaching the DFS with your students,

I hope you will!

If you do – keep on, keeping on!