Teach your students to become decision makers who rely on their own mathematical thinking.
Fluency in mathematics is more than adeptly using basic facts or implementing algorithms. Real fluency involves reasoning and creativity, and it varies by the situation at hand.
Figuring Out Fluency in Mathematics Teaching and Learning offers educators the inspiration to develop a deeper understanding of procedural fluency, along with a plethora of pragmatic tools for shifting classrooms toward a fluency approach. In a friendly and accessible style, this hands-on guide empowers educators to support students in acquiring the repertoire of reasoning strategies necessary to becoming versatile and nimble mathematical thinkers. It includes:
- "Seven Significant Strategies" to teach to students as they work toward procedural fluency.
- Activities, fluency routines, and games that encourage learning the efficiency, flexibility, and accuracy essential to real fluency.
- Reflection questions, connections to mathematical standards, and techniques for assessing all components of fluency.
- Suggestions for engaging families in understanding and supporting fluency.
Fluency is more than a toolbox of strategies to choose from; it's also a matter of equity and access for all learners. Give your students the knowledge and power to become confident mathematical thinkers.
Jennifer Bay-Williams is a professor at the University of Louisville (Kentucky). She is a leader in mathematics education, committed to supporting teachers and teacher leaders in their efforts to improve mathematics learning opportunities for every student. She has authored many articles in NCTM journals, and co-authored many books, including Math Fact Fluency (with Gina Kling and mentioned above); Everything you Need for Mathematics Coaching (with Maggie McGatha, Beth Kobett, and Jon Wray, and published by Corwin), Teaching Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally, the related three book series, Teaching Student Centered Mathematics (with John Van de Walle, LouAnn Lovin, and Karen Karp), On the Money (financial literacy book series), Developing Essential Understanding of Addition and Subtraction in Prekindergarten-Grade 2, and Math and Literature: Grades 6-8. Jennifer is very active in national mathematics organizations, having served on the NCTM board of directors, Association of Mathematics Teacher Education (AMTE) secretary, president, and lead writer for the Standards for the Preparation of Teachers of Mathematics (AMTE, 2017), and now serving on the TODOS: Mathematics for All Board of Directors. She received her PhD from the University of Missouri (Columbia), taught K-12 mathematics in Missouri and Peru, and continues to work in schools around the globe supporting effective mathematics teaching.
John J. SanGiovanni is a mathematics supervisor in Howard County, Maryland. There, he leads mathematics curriculum development, digital learning, assessment, and professional development. John coordinates the graduate program for Elementary Mathematics Instructional Leadership at McDaniel College. He is an author and national mathematics curriculum and professional learning consultant. John is a frequent speaker at national conferences and institutes. He is active in state and national professional organizations recently serving on the Board of Directors for the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and currently on the Board of Directors for the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics.
