How to Build Automaticity with Math Facts: A Practical Guide (Ep 36)

This solo episode, hosted by Anna Stokke, provides educators, parents, and students with practical, research-backed methods to develop math fact automaticity. These techniques have been shown to work with a wide range of students across age, skills and settings. Key techniques discussed include flashcards, cover-copy-compare, taped problems, incremental rehearsal and explicit timing, with detailed instructions for how best to implement each technique.

Call to action: If you know someone who might benefit from this episode, please share it with them!

NOTE: The resource page contains resources to help listeners implement the techniques discussed as well as supporting research: http://annastokke.com/ep-36-resources

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction

01:19 The Importance of math fact automaticity

03:00 Understanding automaticity

06:17 Acquisition stage

06:50 Fluency stage

08:35 What basic facts?

09:06 When should students have math facts mastered?

09:49 Pairing the stimulus with the response

11:13 Using flashcards effectively

13:25 Incremental Rehearsal

15:13 Cover, Copy, Compare Method

17:49 Taped Problems: Beat the Computer

18:57 Should you use games?

20:52 Explicit timing for fluency building

21:14 Why timed practice is essential

22:31 When to introduce timed practice

24:28 Consistency and Daily Practice

25:01 Conclusion and Call to Action

RELEVANT PREVIOUS EPISODES

Ep 30. Math fluency matters with Brian Poncy https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-pj6z6-166741e

Ep 29. Math fact crisis with Brian Poncy https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-u9y84-165d773

Ep 20. Reading and math: parallels and pitfalls with Matthew Burns https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-8aj3f-1508af6 Ep 17. Do timed tests cause math anxiety? with Robin Codding https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-9qahp-14aed8a

Ep 3. The Science of Math with Amanda VanDerHeyden https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-bksbz-13c732d

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

https://www.annastokke.com/ep-36-transcript

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://www.annastokke.com/ep-36-resources

MUSIC

Intro and Outro: Coma Media – Catch it Blue Dot Sessions – Momentary Ease, Betty Dear Podington Bear – Camp Scott Holmes – Happy Logo 3

Website: www.annastokke.com

X: @rastokke

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/anna-stokke-3a1b4c