For K-2 Teachers · DMT Insight

Fluency that lasts past summer, not timed-test panic.

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Free insight 5-minute read · teaching video included

Math Fact Fluency

Math fact fluency is fundamental to mathematical proficiency, but how students get there decides whether it lasts. This insight walks through why drill-built recall collapses and how relationships built on the number line, composing a ten and decomposing a seven, create fluency students keep, and can explain three different ways.

Kindergarteners building number patterns with pattern blocks
Pattern-block counting, kindergarten, reasoning out loud
35%+
avg. test score increase
300+
schools transformed
40+ yrs
of classroom research

What this insight covers

The three ideas that do the heavy lifting. The full article goes deeper , free, no gate.

1

Fluency is relationships, not recall

Students who know 7+8 as "make ten, then two more" keep it. Students who memorized it lose it by winter.

2

Timed tests teach the wrong lesson

Speed pressure measures anxiety. The research-backed alternative builds flexibility, multiple strategies per fact.

3

The models do the teaching

Composing and decomposing on the number line make 8+7 visual, and the strategy becomes something students can explain, not just perform.

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From real classrooms, on tape

Teachers who watched understanding arrive, and said so.

“I saw light bulbs turn on and thinking turn on that I had never seen with math.”

ANGELA WILLIAMS · TEACHER

“This is it. This is how to teach math.”

MOLLY YORK · TEACHER

“These kids aren't just saying math words anymore. They can explain them and show models to back it up.” (Rosie Ashcraft · and Ms. Hochstrasser's 4th graders made dramatic gains, the kind you can point to on the assessments and see in how students talk about the math.

Start with the fluency insight, free

The article and the teaching video are open right now, no trial needed. Yours either way.

The full insight

Math Fact Fluency , the article, with the research and the classroom takeaways.

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Math Fact Fluency, DMT Insight teaching video still
DMT INSIGHT · Math Fact Fluency

The teaching video

Watch the lesson taught, models, questions, and the language, on tape.

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Try it with students

The activities and demo lesson that go with this idea, open now.

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A DMTI math specialist teaching an open number line lesson, students' hands up, everyone in Coach in the room, number line up
Dr. Jackie Ismail leading a teacher workshop PD that respects your time
Dr. Sam Strother teaching fractions at the board Fraction questions? He's got them.
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Dr. Jonathan Brendefur
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Tell us about one student who's stuck, or one lesson that keeps falling flat, and we'll help you build the plan for it. That's the partnership: teacher-led, expert-backed. We don't push a system downward; we listen, advise, question, and support.

, Dr. Jonathan Brendefur, founder, DMTI

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