Math Fact Fluency for Older Students: What to Do When They Don't Know Their Facts

One of the most common frustrations I hear from middle and high school math teachers is that students can’t do basic math. It’s frustrating, you’re trying to teach multi-step equations, and you’re met with students counting on their fingers or freezing up at basic multiplication. I’ve personally never had a 9th-grade class that came in knowing how to multiply or subtract negative numbers, so believe me, I’ve been there.

While it’s easy to get frustrated, the reality is that what our students have experienced with "math fact practice" up to this point hasn't worked. In fact, for many, it has created deep math trauma. If we want a different result, we have to take a different approach. It’s time to stop chasing memorization and start building true, flexible number sense if we want to create math fact fluency for students who struggle.

Busting the Math Fact Fluency Myths That Are Holding Your Students Back

Before we can move forward, we have to let go of the old ideas that are actually making things worse. Research and experience have shown that some of our most common practices are counterproductive. For even more about fluency and students who struggle, be sure to check out my book, Teaching 6-12 Math Intervention, which inspired this blog post.

Myth 1: "They shouldn't be using their fingers!”

Let them use their fingers! Seriously. Research shows that finger-based strategies and representation play a crucial role in learning and understanding arithmetic. Shaming them for it only adds to their anxiety.

Myth 2: "They just need to be faster!"

This might be the most damaging myth of all. Timed tests and a focus on speed create stress. What happens when we’re stressed? Our working memory—the very part of the brain that holds math facts—is impaired. We’re literally making it harder for them to recall the information we want them to know.

Myth 3: "If they just memorized them, we'd be fine."

Memorization should not be the goal. Studies have found that students who easily memorize facts don’t have higher IQs or superior "math ability". Forcing memorization often leads to math trauma, especially for students with learning differences.

Building Number Sense: The Gatebreaker Approach

So if we aren't using timed drills, what do we do instead? We create fluency practice that is intentional and designed to build confidence, not fear. Any activity you do with older students that help practice basic skills, fluency, and/or number sense must be:

Time Aware:

You don't need to pause grade-level content for months. Weave in short, powerful routines as warm-ups or a "Fluency Friday".

Age Appropriate:

Our high schoolers have probably seen that cutesy butterfly division worksheet five times already. They feel disrespected by it. Make sure your materials feel appropriate for their age.

Visually Approachable:

A worksheet packed with 100 problems is a recipe for anxiety and shutdown. Focus on activities that are visually clean and focus on one problem at a time.

Conceptual

Focus on activities that are visual and pictorial. This helps build a deeper understanding of numbers that goes beyond just symbols on a page.

Fun!

This is a bonus, but it's a big one. Use a deck of cards or dice to let students create their own problems. Make it a game!

Your New Basic Math Fact Fluency Tools for 6-12th Grade Students Who Struggle

Ready to try something different? Here are a few of my favorite "Gatebreaker Tools" for building number sense in a way that actually works:

1.  Number Talks: Present a single problem 18 x 4 and have students share the different ways they solved it mentally. This celebrates different ways of thinking and shows there’s more than one right way to get to an answer (a key factor in curing math anxiety)

2.  Open Middle Tasks: These are fun math puzzles that are challenging and engaging for all levels. They are visually approachable and feel age-appropriate, even if you use a task from an earlier grade level. 

3.  YouCubed Tasks: These "low floor, high ceiling" tasks are amazing because they provide an entry point for every single student in your classroom. Start with Emoji Graph or Painted Cube.

4.  Desmos Teacher Activities: Desmos (now Amplify) has a free library of incredible activities that help students visualize math concepts and often include digital manipulatives. I’m a big fan of Polygraph activities!

5.  Problem Strings: Problem strings use a carefully sequenced set of related problems to help students build new mathematical strategies and deepen their conceptual understanding. Similar to Number Talks, this method focuses on student thinking and discussion, providing an accessible entry point that guides all learners toward more complex ideas. You can learn more about problem strings here and here. 

In Closing

Changing your approach to fluency is a huge step toward becoming the gatebreaker your students need. You’re not just teaching them math facts; you’re helping them heal their relationship with math and building the confidence they need to tackle the high-level content you know they are capable of.

Let me know which activity you’re going to try with your students over on Instagram @collaborated.with.juliana