Try Sample Lessons From Building Fact Fluency: A Toolkit for Multiplication & Division
The Building Fact Fluency toolkit is designed around multiple contextual themes that invite students to explore 10 foundational and derived factors. Each of the factors is taught through three real-world contexts supported by a lesson string of related activities, tasks, and games for each context. Over the course of a Lesson String, students will discuss vibrant images and solve problems using both informal and mathematical language as they mathematize situations.
Peaches Sample Lesson String
There are two sets of Lesson Strings for each context so the toolkit can be used for multiple years without students repeating tasks. See below to access sample Lesson String components for Set A and Set B.
Set A
Core Routine: 3-Act Math Task
Problem-based lessons give students opportunities to mathematize the world, engage in mathematical modeling, and understand the structure of story problems.
Watch Video
Core Routine: Image Talks
Image Talks are short routines, similar to Number Talks, except based on a photograph or series of photographs of everyday objects, rather than numerals.
Download PDF
Core Routine: Tool Talks
Tool Talks are short routines, similar in length to Image Talks or Number Talks. A Tool Talk is a series of photographs that provide opportunities for students to connect the meaning-making they have been doing within the context to slightly more abstract math tools. The Tool Talk in a Lesson String is intended to be taught after the Image Talk.
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Core Routine: Number Talk
Powerful short, mental math routines prompt students to talk about different ways they can mentally solve computation problems.
Download PDF
Core Routine: Contextualized Practice Problems
Collections of story problems provide ample opportunities for students to work deeply with the operations within each context, building connections with practice (in English and Spanish).
Download PDF
Core and Optional Routine: Games for Purposeful Practice
Each toolkit includes a set of 46 highly engaging games, including all the playing counters, dice, and downloadable gameboards needed for whole-class number fact practice and fun (English and Spanish).
Watch How to Play Videos
Download Directions
Optional Routine: Same/Different
A routine shows two images side by side and asks, “What’s the same? What’s different?” Asking about attributes rather than answers invites students to see and think differently.
Download PDF
Optional Routine: True/False
This is a powerful reasoning routine from Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) where students look at an equation, decide whether it is true or false, and justify their thinking.
Download PDF
Optional Routine: Card Talks
This routine can be facilitated as whole-class warm-ups, discussion starters for small groups, or during individual conferences. Card Talks can be taught at any time in the Lesson String.
Download PDF
Set B
Core Routine: 3-Act Math Task
Problem-based lessons give students opportunities to mathematize the world, engage in mathematical modeling, and understand the structure of story problems.
Watch Videos
Core Routine: Image Talks
Image Talks are short routines, similar to Number Talks, except based on a photograph or series of photographs of everyday objects, rather than numerals.
Download PDF
Core Routine: Tool Talks
Tool Talks are short routines, similar in length to Image Talks or Number Talks. A Tool Talk is a series of photographs that provide opportunities for students to connect the meaning-making they have been doing within the context to slightly more abstract math tools. The Tool Talk in a Lesson String is intended to be taught after the Image Talk.
Download PDF
Core Routine: Number Talk
Powerful short, mental math routines prompt students to talk about different ways they can mentally solve computation problems.
Download PDF
Core Routine: Contextualized Practice Problems
Collections of story problems provide ample opportunities for students to work deeply with the operations within each context, building connections with practice (in English and Spanish).
Download PDF
Optional Routine: Open Middle Problems
Open Middle Problems are challenging problems that are designed to generate multiple solution paths: students start with the same question, which has a correct answer, but students may get from start to finish in a variety of ways (in English and Spanish).
Download PDF
Core and Optional Routine: Games for Purposeful Practice
Each toolkit includes a set of 46 highly engaging games, including all the playing counters, dice, and downloadable gameboards needed for whole-class number fact practice and fun (English and Spanish).
Watch How to Play Videos
Download Directions
Optional Routine: Same/Different
A routine shows two images side by side and asks, “What’s the same? What’s different?” Asking about attributes rather than answers invites students to see and think differently.
Download PDF
Optional Routine: True/False
This is a powerful reasoning routine from Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) where students look at an equation, decide whether it is true or false, and justify their thinking.
Download PDF
Optional Routine: Card Talks
This routine can be facilitated as whole-class warm-ups, discussion starters for small groups, or during individual conferences. Card Talks can be taught at any time in the Lesson String.
Download PDF
Online Resources Overview
Each toolkit includes access to robust online resources that include a variety of downloadable, printable, and projectable resources as well as built-in professional development including implementation support and on-demand professional learning videos.
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