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Home » Blog » Math » Math Fact Fluency Sticks

Math Fact Fluency Sticks

Fact Fluency, Math

Written by: Angie Olson

Math Fact Fluency Sticks are a powerful tool for students to use in the 1st grade or 2nd grade classroom. I believe in this system because it is developmentally appropriate, research based, and meets the needs and ability levels of all the students in your classroom in a low stress and low maintenance way.

This post is going to go into detail explaining how to use math fact fluency sticks and why they work!

MATERIALS NEEDED

  • 2 pocket folders
  • rulers with 3 holes
  • rings that open and close

WHO NEEDS THIS

  • All 1st grade students
  • 2nd grade students who aren't proficient in their math fact fluency

HOW TO SET UP

To get set up, print all of the sheets of flashcards that you will need.  Facts up to 12 are included so if you teach up to 9 or 10, simply cross off the flashcards that aren't needed.  Laminate the sheets and place one of each set in the folder pocket.  In the other pocket place the fluency sticks (with labels), progress tracker, and parent letter.

Allow your students to do the cutting.  Start with the +0 flashcards and work up in sequential order.  Strive to have about 20 cards ready to go on the bottom ring (not yet label).  Only place 10 cards on the progressing ring at one time.  These are the cards that students are practicing daily.  (more than 10 would not be as effective)  The top ring is for math facts that are achieved and these flashcards should be revisited a couple times per week.

Math Fact Fluency Sticks program components

HOW TO TRACK AND ASSESS

Students will practice the math facts both in class and at home.  They make for great homework, math warm-ups, center activities, partner activities, or even early finishers.  STUDENTS DO NOT MOVE THEIR FLASHCARDS THEMSELVES.  The reason for this is because a teacher must assess them to make sure that they can recall the answer to the math fact within 3 seconds.  It is suggested to check in with students about once a week.  At that time, the cards that need to be moved can be moved up to the achieved level and the student can color in the fact on the progress checker.  It is suggested that the students colors the math fact before moving the fact onto the achieved ring.

self trackers

WHY DOES THIS WORK

I strongly believe in this system because it is developmentally appropriate and meets the needs and ability levels of all the students in your classroom in a low-stress and low-maintenance way.

When students focus on ten facts at a time, this sets the child up for success. The student is no longer overwhelmed with a pile of flashcards to practice.  The weekly spiral practice of the mastered facts allow for long term mastery.

I also love that the program involves the families (although not required) and shows them their progress as well as the benchmarks that their child should strive to achieve throughout the year.  Having students track their own progress not only frees up the teacher's time but also puts students in control of their own learning.  When students track and see their own progress, this is a powerful thing!

MATH FACT FLUENCY STICKS & FLASHCARDS

Math fact fluency sticks are a developmentally appropriate, low stress, and low maintenance way to differentiate the content that students need to learn and master their addition and subtraction facts.  The flashcards for these fluency sticks are provided in this resource.  The math problems are available in both vertical and horizontal form.

If you have rulers and rings, you are good to go!  This resource also includes Avery labels for your fluency sticks.  The labels are:  Not Yet, Progressing, and Achieved.  Each student gets their own math fact fluency stick and it gets stored in his/her fluency folder.

Addition and Subtraction Facts

FLUENCY FOLDERS

Folders are great for storing the fluency sticks, tracking sheets, parent letter, and extra flashcards.  The math fact fluency folder cover is provided in this file.

Math Fact Fluency Folders

TRACKING SHEETS

Addition and subtraction tracking sheets are available. Both sets come in facts up to 9, 10 and 12 to meet your students' needs. The tracking sheets are very visual and meant to be used by the students.  Students are responsible for tracking their math facts that they master.  This resource explains how this can be done easily and effectively.

math fact student tracking sheets

Math Fact Fluency BENCHMARKS

Math Fact Fluency Benchmark sheets are available in this resource as well.  These are nice to hang up behind your desk, put in a math intervention folder, or have as a reference at parent-teacher conferences.

math fact fluency benchmarks

PARENT LETTERS

Parent letters are available for both 1st grade families and 2nd grade families. The letter explains the benchmarks for both grade levels as well as the purpose of the math fact fluency sticks.

parent letters to explain importance of memorizing math facts

More Math Fact Fluency Ideas

For more math fact fluency activities that you can use in your classroom, check out the video below.

If you'd like to save this idea for future reference, feel free to use the image below to pin to your Pinterest board or click here for an easy link straight to Pinterest.

21 Comments

  1. Kara

    Angie,
    Where can I find your Mental Math? I saw your note tagged as available and labeled Mental Math Strategy in the Sticky Math-but I can’t seem to find it.
    Thanks!
    Kara

    Reply
    • Angie Olson

      Hi Kara!

      My mental math pages are marked within the sticky math bundle. I have placed a link below to the bundle itself where it tells you everything included. Thank you for reaching out, I hope this has been helpful!
      http://bit.ly/2NCVw3d

      Angie Olson
      Lucky Little Learners

      Reply
  2. Laura

    Do you have this for multiplication facts? Love the idea!

    Reply
    • Angie Olson

      Hi Laura!

      I do have a multiplication set of the fluency sticks available for purchase through TpT! I have placed the link below for you to look over and see if it’s what you are looking for. Thank you, have a great day!
      http://bit.ly/2oeX0C4

      Angie Olson
      Lucky Little Learners

      Reply
  3. Brenda

    I’m excited about this. I teach 4/5 Deaf students. Their language deficit makes it difficult to communicate and teach basic skills. I think this might work! I especially like having them track their progress. That’s a skill I’m trying to teach this year. Thank you

    Reply
  4. Delta Morgan

    Do you have one of these set for Basic Multiplication Facts? I teach 4th grade and this would be very helpful

    Reply
    • Angie Olson

      Hi Delta!
      I do have a multiplication set of the Fluency Sticks! I have placed the link to them below, thank you!
      http://bit.ly/2oeX0C4

      Angie Olson
      Lucky Little Learners

      Reply
  5. ali

    Do you have a set for multiplication?

    Reply
    • Angie Olson

      Hi Ali!
      I do have a multiplication set of the Fluency Sticks! I have placed the link to them below, thank you!
      http://bit.ly/2oeX0C4

      Angie Olson
      Lucky Little Learners

      Reply
  6. Mel

    I’d love a multiplication set…

    Reply
  7. Jasmine

    Hey! I absolutely love this! Do you think you will ever possibly consider making a multiplication/division version of this for 3rd and 4th grade?

    Reply
    • Bailey Jordan

      Hi Jasmine! Thanks so much for this awesome suggestion, we will add it to our list of potential products for the future. Have a great day!

      Bailey Jordan
      Lucky Little Learners

      Reply
  8. Natalie

    Dear Angie,
    This looks like a great resource and I’m doing something similar with my first graders but not as sophisticated.

    I have a question. Is the parent letter editable?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Bailey Jordan

      Hi Natalie!
      Thanks so much for reaching out. The parent letter is not editable, but it does come with a first and second grade version. I hope this helps! Have a great day.

      Bailey J.
      Lucky Little Learners

      Reply
  9. Kimberly Cone

    Do you have this available for fact up to 20? I would love to use this, but in 2nd grade, we go to 20. Every student could benefit from this!

    Reply
    • Angie Olson

      The largest math facts go up to +12 with the largest math fact being 12+12. Hope that helps clarify.

      Reply
  10. Amy DeVries

    I just purchased this resource and am so excited to start! Do you have any recommendations on how to store all the cards? I made 30 sets of both addition and subtraction 0-20 facts and am unsure on how to store all of the cards! I think it would be too much for the kiddos to keep track of.

    Reply
    • Bailey Jordan

      ​Hi Amy! We would love to help you with this question, please email us at customerservice@luckylittlelearners.com and we will do our best to answer it for you! Thanks so much!

      Bailey J.
      Lucky Little Learners

      Reply
  11. Ashley

    Hi,
    I have successful implemented your math sticks with one little complication. I am an intervention teacher K-2 and my students continually break their sticks. I started with plastic rulers and moved to wooden paint sticks. Any suggestions before I order my supplies (PO) for next year??

    Thank you,
    Ashley

    Reply
    • Jess Dalrymple

      Hello Ashley, This is a great question! We have never used anything besides plastic or wooden rulers, but wonder if something like a paint stick with holes drilled would be more durable? You could also use three different rings, but those might be easier to lose. Let us know if these ideas work better for you, or if you come up with a different solution! We’d love to share it!

      Reply

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Hey there!  I’m Angie, owner of Lucky Little Learners. Our #1 goal is to support K-2 teachers.  We provide unlimited access to over 20,000 printables that are aligned to your standards.
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