FactsWise for Math Facts Fluency
A basic facts fluency approach that works! Engaging mini-lessons focusing on conceptual understanding, patterns & strategies.
FactsWise
We believe that students learn mathematics best when they:
- are flexible part-whole thinkers
- develop conceptual understanding through hands-on learning experiences
- develop basic facts fluency through daily whole-class learning experiences
- can explain their strategies, and learn from other's strategy explanations as well
FactsWise has 6 Key Principles
Fluency = Number Sense and Flexible Strategies with Many Facts Easily Retrievable
Fluency = Number Sense and Flexible Strategies with Many Facts Easily Retrievable
Fluency = Number Sense and Flexible Strategies with Many Facts Easily Retrievable
- Accurate
- Without Counting
- Within 3 or 4 seconds
Engage Students in Short Daily Learning Experiences
Fluency = Number Sense and Flexible Strategies with Many Facts Easily Retrievable
Fluency = Number Sense and Flexible Strategies with Many Facts Easily Retrievable
We suggest actively engaging students for 5 to 10 minutes every day. The FactsWise Resource Books provide daily suggestions.
Prioritize 5s and 10s for both Add/Subtract and Multiply/Divide
Fluency = Number Sense and Flexible Strategies with Many Facts Easily Retrievable
First Conceptual Understanding, then Patterns/Strategies, and finally Abstract Practice
Once students are confident with their 5s and 10s, they have a strong foundation that allows them to use flexible strategies for other facts!
First Conceptual Understanding, then Patterns/Strategies, and finally Abstract Practice
First Conceptual Understanding, then Patterns/Strategies, and finally Abstract Practice
First Conceptual Understanding, then Patterns/Strategies, and finally Abstract Practice
FactsWise identifies four possible manipulatives for add/subtract and also for multiply/divide. Most classrooms have easy access to at least two of these.
Provide a variety of learning experiences with immediate feedback
First Conceptual Understanding, then Patterns/Strategies, and finally Abstract Practice
Use formative and one-on-one assessment after learning experiences
Whole-class activities such as number talks and Clap Facts as well as paired activities and games all engage students and provide immediate feedback.
Use formative and one-on-one assessment after learning experiences
First Conceptual Understanding, then Patterns/Strategies, and finally Abstract Practice
Use formative and one-on-one assessment after learning experiences
Teachers can learn which students are building fluency and who needs more time and support using formative assessment, and occasional one-on-one assessments.
We appreciate you and your work with learners!
Teachers -- your work with students and parents will be different for the next weeks and possibly months. If any of our resources can help, please let me know if there's anything I can do to help. You can contact me at factswisemath@gmail.com.
Parents -- FactsWise resources provide activities and games to engage your children with basic facts fluency and number sense learning. You may also find the practice workbooks helpful (although they are not meant for initial instruction).
About Us
Valerie Henry, FactsWise Author
Valerie has been a math educator since 1986. She taught middle school math for 17 years, and has worked with undergraduates, graduate students, and credential candidates as a lecturer at UC Irvine since 2002.
She has provided math professional development for K-12 teachers throughout her career, working with individual schools, districts, county offices of education, Illustrative Mathematics, the SBAC Digital Library, the UCI Math Project, and the California Math Renaissance Project.
Valerie has an Ed.D. from UCLA/UCI and a B.A. in mathematics from U.C. Davis, is credentialed in both Multiple Subject and Single Subject mathematics and received National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Mathematics.
FactsWise
In 2004, Valerie began a pilot project to investigate more effective strategies for teaching basic facts fluency after discovering in her dissertation research that few first graders were building strong fluency and number sense when drilled with flashcards, worksheets and timed tests.
By 2006, FactsWise had been developed, piloted and revised using strategies based on research from around the world. Student data demonstrates dramatic differences between FactsWise students and students using other approaches. Teachers report that students enjoy their daily FactsWise activities and develop number sense and mathematical confidence in ways they haven't seen before.
Since 2006, Valerie has shared these strategies with teachers through resource books, workshops and online courses. Each year she has learned more about the needs of teachers and students and has continually refined her strategies for supporting teachers as they make the shift from testing facts fluency without actually teaching it, to truly teaching students through engaging learning experiences.
Valerie is also the author of the Ellipsis Math Summer Workbooks for grades 5 through Algebra and Geometry. These books balance skill review and practice with problem solving and exploration of a variety of famous mathematical puzzles and games.
Valerie balances her time as a lecturer in mathematics education at UC Irvine with her commitment to share what she has learned about helping students develop basic facts fluency, part-whole thinking, and flexible number sense through FactsWise workshops.
Contact Information:
Valerie Henry, Ed.D.
factswise.math@gmail.com