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Why Is Fact Fluency So Important is the ability to recall the answer to simple math facts rapidly and accurately. It is usually the result of repeated practice, which causes the information to be committed to long-term memory, allowing it to recall instantly.
To be considered fluent, students should no longer need to rely on counting on their fingers or drawing models to compute. Here is why fact fluency is important:
01 – Why Is Fact Fluency So Important Reduces Cognitive Load
The assumption that we all have a finite cognitive capacity at any given time is supported by research on cognitive load. To put it another way, we’re all functioning within our cognitive abilities.
Students must, for example, conduct many cognitive processes at the same time when solving word problems. Students must read and comprehend the problem, deconstruct the information provided to discover what is required to solve, compute, and identify the solution.
When dealing with multi-step problems or ones involving extra data, this method gets considerably more complicated.
While knowing arithmetic facts does not make solving word problems any easier, it does minimize the number of cognitive resources required to complete the computation element of the process, allowing those resources to be devoted to other parts of the process.
Why Is Fact Fluency So Important Consider this: if a struggling student devotes all of their mental resources to solving simple facts, what resources are left for problem-solving or deciding whether their solution is reasonable?
When asked to verify their work, many struggling students become frustrated and overwhelmed. They’ve expended all of their resources to get to this point, and now we’re asking them to start over with an empty tank.
02 – Makes Test Easier
If you look at any practice tests, you’ll notice an increasing tendency toward situations where students are asked to choose the correct answer with an explanation. Three of the answers have computational flaws in this type of issue. These questions constitute another roadblock to good achievement when pupils struggle to compute.
These problems are straightforward and involve minimal time or mental effort for pupils who have gained computational fluency and know their facts.
03 – Why Is Fact Fluency So Important of Time-Saving
Why Is Fact Fluency So Important we began (or continued) providing various techniques to help pupils compute with the move to the Common Core years ago. To assist students to grasp HOW to calculate, we used number lines, adding on, skip counting, and a variety of other strategies.
On the other hand, those tactics are intended to be temporary stepping stones toward the ultimate objective of computational fluency. They aren’t intended to be a long-term solution for calculating simple facts.
It’s just a matter of time before a student struggles to keep up if they have to draw a picture or build a number line every time they need to add or multiply of Why Is Fact Fluency So Important.
Students who aren’t fluent in arithmetic are more prone to acquire an aversion or distaste for the subject when algebraic reasoning skills are increasingly emphasized in primary school.
Multi-step word problems are a foundation for higher-level math, and primary children need to be exposed to them as they progress through middle school and beyond.
However, if we want to give students the best chance for long-term success, we must balance skill development and application.
