Learning and Teaching

Building Mathematical Fluency

Across our Mathematics program, one of our key focuses has been developing students’ fluency with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts. Mathematical fluency means students can recall and use number facts accurately, efficiently and flexibly, allowing them to focus their thinking on solving problems and applying their mathematical understanding.

When students are learning to read, we know that becoming fluent with recognising words allows them to focus on understanding the meaning of a text. Mathematics works in a similar way. When students can confidently recall important number facts, they have more mental capacity available to reason, make connections and solve increasingly complex problems.

Fluency does not mean simply memorising facts without understanding. Students first need to develop strong number sense and learn efficient strategies for working with numbers. For example, understanding that 8 + 7 can be solved by thinking “8 + 2 + 5” or knowing that 6 × 8 is connected to 5 × 8 and 1 × 8 helps students build flexible and connected mathematical thinking. Through regular practice, these strategies become increasingly automatic, supporting students to recall facts quickly and confidently.

A strong foundation in addition and subtraction supports students as they work with larger numbers, solve multi-step problems and develop efficient calculation strategies. Fluency with multiplication and division facts is equally important as students move into learning fractions, decimals, percentages, measurement and more complex mathematical concepts.

At school, students are developing fluency through explicit teaching, opportunities to practise strategies, mathematical discussions and short, regular practice activities designed to strengthen recall and confidence. We have implemented fluency sessions at the start of every Maths session. Students engage in practice as a class. As they move through and become fluent in different facts they then will move to partner fluency practice.  

Families can support mathematical fluency at home through short, positive opportunities to talk about numbers and practise facts. Playing number games, discussing strategies, noticing patterns and encouraging children to explain their thinking are all valuable ways to build confidence and enjoyment in Mathematics.

By strengthening students’ fluency with the foundational operations of Mathematics, we are helping them develop the confidence and capacity to tackle more challenging mathematical ideas throughout their schooling.

Deborah Courtney

(Director of Learning and Teaching)