IECE 460/ECED 544 Assignment Description

Effective Basic Fact Practice

Van de Walle et al., 2014
DO

Emphasize self-monitoring
Keep an inventory of mastered and
working on facts

Focus on self-improvement
Set personal goals

DONT

Use lengthy timed tests

Remember, the brain does not learn and
retain when emotions are negative and
anxious; Instead, encourage selfmonitoring with short, individualized
drills.

Make strategies explicit

Use sharing, number talks, & quick images

Use public comparisons of mastery

Instead, celebrate meeting goals.

Drill in short time segments

10 min or less per day

Work on facts over time

Create a year-long routine

Proceed through facts in order = 0 to 9

Instead, focus on groups of related facts
that use common strategies (such as near
doubles, make ten facts, x10 and x9,
double (x2) and double again (x4), etc.).

Involve families
Use games as homework

Make drill enjoyable

Play games, Compete with self to meet own
goals

Move to memorization too soon

Instead, allow time to first build
conceptual understanding, then strategic
competence, and finally procedural
fluency.

Use facts as a barrier to good mathematics

Instead, engage students in problem
solving and make sure all students have
access to appropriate, individualized
practice.

Use technology
NCTM Illuminations:
http://illuminations.nctm.org
NLVM: http://nlvm.usu.edu

Emphasize importance of quick recall of facts

IECE 460/ECED 544 Assignment Description

Make learning goal explicit =

computational fluency

IECE 460/ECED 544 Assignment Description