top of page

Research & Strategies

 

The ability to remember basic facts is critical in today’s world of upcoming technology and the use of calculators and computers. The only reliable asset that we have is the data that we store for ourselves. It is often, and not uncommon, that devices such as a calculator or laptop have dead batteries or no service, and we are expected to complete tasks on our own without these resources (Enright, 1985). "Proficient levels of performance go beyond the accuracy (quality) of an acquired skill to encompass sufficient speed (quantity) of performance” (Crawford, 2000-). The programs that were used in this study are Rocket Math, FASTT Math, and XtraMath.

 

Rocket Math: Rocket Math is a ten-minute a day paper and pencil, worksheet-based math facts supplemental practice curriculum. Students learn 2 facts and their reverses on each worksheet in a carefully controlled sequence which enables mastery at an individualized pace.  Students practice orally with a partner every day.  One minute timings assess when students are ready to move to the next set of facts. (http://www.rocketmath.com/p/about-the-program.html) This is also a process of self assessment and self evaluation, which creates more confidence and an improvement of attitude (Bystrom, 2010). It has been seen that with the program implemented, students' speed of recall of the math facts increase, while the amount of errors decrease (Smith, 2011).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XtraMath: XtraMath is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to math achievement for all. The goal is to develop effective, efficient, adaptive, and intrinsically rewarding supplemental math activities. (Folding-In) (https://xtramath.org/home/people) Flashcards are a way for a student to repeat, recall, and visualize the math fact’s answer. The cards have the ability to discover how well they know or did not know the math fact. Correct answers then become encoded in students' knowledge (Dunn, 2012).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FASTT Math: FASTT Math is a must-have solution for all students in Grades 2 and beyond, both those who are accelerating their acquisition of math facts as well as those who are struggling to catch up. FASTT Math’s adaptive technology creates an individualized learning progression for every student, and embedded assessment ensures math fact mastery. (http://www.scholastic.com/fastt-math/about.htm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students can develop their skill with math facts past strategies for remembering facts into automaticity, or direct retrieval of math fact answers (Crawford, 2000-). Developing the speed of recall of math facts is a crucial practice to build a foundation of math education. Therefore, I decided to include these three programs because of the research behind them. My district already purchases FASTT Math because of its program and success. The students love it and it makes learning and mastering math facts fun. I chose XtraMath as a way of folding-in because it was an electronic version of flashcards and it kept track of which ones they knew and mastered, as well as graphed their progress and let me know how each child did every day by emailing me a percent correct. Lastly, I chose Rocket Math because I had used it in the past and saw the great outcomes through using it. The students love making and beating their goal and they feel like it is at their own pace and they aren't competing with anyone else. Overall, I was very excited and happy with the programs and the students' outcomes from using them. I would definitely use the programs again with all my students starting at the beginning of the year. Starting that early would give each student time to make it through the entire alphabet in Rocket Math, and the opportunity to pass all the levels in FASTT Math and master the facts in XtraMath. 

 

 

Sources:

 

Bystrom, A. (2010). The Impact of Daily Multiplication Fact Review. Retrieved July 16, from http://scimath.unl.edu/MIM/files/research              /Bystrom_AR_FinalDraftLA.odf

Crawford, D. (2000-). The Third Stage of Learning Math Facts: Developing Automaticity. Retrieved from http://www.rocketmath.com

Dunn, J. (2012). The 60-Second Guide to How Flashcards Actually Work - Edudemic. Edudemic. Retreieved from                                           http://www.edudemic.com/the-60-second-guide-to-how-flashcards-actually-work/.

Enright, B. (1985). Teaching Strategies. Master of Math Facts: Activities that Help. Childhood Education, 62(2), 148-150. Retreived                from http://search.proquest.com/docview/63306369?accountid=14692.

Smith, C. R., Marchand-Martella, N., & Martella, R.C. (2011). Assessing the Effects of the 'Rocket Math" Program with a Primary                     Elementary School Student At Risk For School Failure: A case study. Education and Treatment of Children, 34(2), 247-258.

Wright, J. (2013) How to: Improve Proficiency in Math Facts Through a Self-Administered Folding-In Technique. Retrieved from                       http://interventioncentral.org.

bottom of page