Plymouth Public Schools
Philosophy on Mathematical Fluency
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) emphasize the importance of both conceptual
understanding of mathematics and mathematical fluency. The Plymouth Public Schools
have set math benchmark fluency targets to serve as one tool to assess students’
mathematical fluency. However, it is essential to remember that conceptual
understanding precedes fluency and conceptual understanding is critical in the
development of students’ math skills.
A critical part of mathematical fluency is the development of strategies that enable
students to understand mathematics. Instructional strategies that help students
conceptualize math will increase mathematical fluency. It is not our philosophy to “drill
and kill” math facts. Our philosophy is to first provide students with a conceptual
understanding of mathematics and then provide targeted practice (e.g. mad minutes,
computer games, flashcards) so that student can increase their mathematical fluency.
The purpose of math fact benchmark assessments is to determine students’ areas of
strengths and weaknesses related to math fluency and to provide follow-up instruction to
target students’ weaknesses. In addition, benchmark assessments will also be used to
measure students’ improvement over time. Other classroom and benchmark
assessments are also used to determine students’ conceptual understanding of
mathematical practices.
December 2012
Plymouth Public Schools
Math Fact Expectations and Fluency Targets
Grade 1
Related Common Core State Standard: 1.OA.C.6
Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies
such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to
a ten (e.g., 13 – 4 = 13 – 3 – 1 = 10 – 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction
(e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 – 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums
(e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13).
Fluency Target – Addition and Subtraction within 10
(Out of 25 problems)
Operation
November
March
May
Addition
N/A
95% in
95% in
4 minutes
2 minutes
Subtraction
N/A
95% in
95% in
4 minutes
2 minutes
Grade 2
Related Common Core State Standard: 2.OA.B.2:
Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies (see grade 1 above). By end of Grade 2,
know from memory all sums of two one-digit numbers.
Fluency Target - Addition and Subtraction within 20
(Out of 60 problems)
Operation
November
March
Addition
80% in
85% in
5 minutes
5 minutes
Subtraction
80% in
85% in
5 minutes
5 minutes
December 2012
May
95% in
5 minutes
95% in
5 minutes
3rd Grade
Related Common Core State Standard: 3.OA.C.7
Fluently multiply and divide within 100, using strategies such as the relationship between multiplication and division
(e.g., knowing that 8 × 5 = 40, one knows 40 ÷ 5 = 8) or properties of operations. By the end of Grade 3, know from
memory all products of two one-digit numbers.
Fluency Targets - Addition and Subtraction within 20 (review) and
Multiplication and Division within 100
Operation
Addition
(out of 100 problems)
Subtraction
(out of 100 problems)
Multiplication
(out of 100 problems)
Division
(out of 50 Problems)
November
95% in
10 minutes
95% in
10 minutes
N/A
N/A
March
95% in
7 minutes
95% in
7 minutes
85% in
10 minutes
85% in
10 minutes
May
95% in
5 minutes
95% in
5 minutes
95% in
7 minutes
95% in
7 minutes
4th and 5th grades
Related Common Core State Standards: 4.NBT.B.4 and 5.NBT.B.5
Fluently add and subtract multi-digit whole numbers using the standard algorithm.
.
Fluency Targets - Addition and Subtraction of multi-digit numbers and
Multiplication and Division within 100 (review)
Operation
Multi-digit Addition
(out of 25 problems)
Multi-digit Subtraction
(out of 25 problems)
Multiplication
(out of 100 problems)
Division
(out of 50 problems)
December 2012
November
85% in
10 minutes
85% in
10 minutes
95% in
7 minutes
95% in
7 minutes
March
90% in
8 minutes
90% in
8 minutes
95% in
6 minutes
95% in
6 minutes
May
95% in
6 minutes
95% in
6 minutes
95% in
5 minutes
95% in
5 minutes
December 2012