Fluency Practice follows a carefully sequenced learning path built around four instructional methods. Each method supports a different stage of fluency development - students begin by focusing on accuracy without time pressure, then gradually work on building speed with a relaxed, count-up timer. If certain facts prove challenging, they receive targeted follow-up practice on those facts. Finally, previously mastered material is reviewed through spaced repetition to support long-term retention.
Students work through these methods until they meet conditions to advance to the next topic in their Fluency learning path (based on their progress in the Happy Numbers curriculum).
Overview of Fluency Methods
Students work through Fluency topics using four methods:
Fact Builder – Establish fundamental accuracy without time pressure
Speed Builder – Build speed while maintaining correct recall
Targeted Practice – Reinforce facts identified as challenging
Fact Review – Maintain previously mastered skills through spaced review
This progression first secures accuracy, then supports fluency, provides focused reinforcement for specific needs, and preserves mastery over time.
Fact Builder
Purpose: Build speed while retaining accuracy
Speed Builder introduces light time constraints. Students work with a gentle timer that counts up, encouraging quick, accurate recall while minimizing pressure.
How it works
Students see a math fact, an input field, and a timer
The timer counts up to:
15 seconds for Grades 1–2
10 seconds for Grades 3–5
When the limit is reached, the timer disappears, but students may still answer
Mastery Criteria
A fact is considered mastered when the student answers correctly within the time limit. Students continue in Speed Builder until:
All facts in the topic (or multiple topics) have been shown, and
The Challenging Tasks pool is empty
If all facts have been shown but the Challenging Tasks pool still contains facts, students move to Targeted Practice. If the session ends before all facts are shown, Speed Builder continues in the next session.
Speed Builder
Purpose: Build speed while retaining accuracy
Speed Builder introduces light time constraints. Students work with a gentle timer that counts up, encouraging quick, accurate recall while minimizing pressure.
How it works
Students see a math fact, an input field, and a timer
The timer counts up to:
15 seconds for Grades 1–2
10 seconds for Grades 3–5
When the limit is reached, the timer disappears, but students may still answer
Mastery Criteria
A fact is considered mastered when the student answers correctly within the time limit. Students continue in Speed Builder until:
All facts in the topic (or multiple topics) have been shown, and
The Challenging Tasks pool is empty
If all facts have been shown but the Challenging Tasks pool still contains facts, students move to Targeted Practice. If the session ends before all facts are shown, Speed Builder continues in the next session.
Targeted Practice
Purpose: Reinforce facts identified as challenging in Speed Builder
Targeted Practice provides focused, untimed work with only the facts students struggled with under timed conditions.
How it works
Uses the same mechanics as Fact Builder (no timer, guided correction)
Students work only on facts flagged as not mastered (Challenging) in Speed Builder
Facts appear in a random order from the Challenging Tasks pool
Mastery Criteria
A fact is mastered when the student answers it correctly two times in a row.Students stay in Targeted Practice until all facts in the Challenging Tasks pool are mastered.
Once the pool is empty, students return to Speed Builder to attempt these facts again under time constraints. This cycle – Speed Builder → Targeted Practice → Speed Builder – continues until students can complete a full Speed Builder session with no remaining Challenging Tasks.
Fact Review
Purpose: Maintain mastery and strengthen fluency through spaced practice
Fact Review supports long-term retention by revisiting previously learned facts. Students enter this method after completing a topic but before they qualify to advance to the next set of Fluency topics.
How it works
Uses the mechanics of Speed Builder (including the timer)
Students receive a set of 10 previously mastered facts
Facts must be answered correctly within the time limit
Mastery Criteria
A fact is considered mastered when the student answers correctly once within the time limit. Facts answered incorrectly or too slowly remain active until the student completes them. Students continue Fact Review sets until they meet the conditions required to advance to the next Fluency topic in their learning sequence according to their progress in the Happy Numbers curriculum.
Visual themes for Fluency Practice
Students begin by focusing on accuracy without time pressure, then gradually work on building speed with a relaxed, count-up timer. If certain facts prove challenging, they receive targeted follow-up practice on those facts. Finally, previously mastered material is reviewed through spaced repetition to support long-term retention.
1. Fluency Knight Adventure
This theme is focused on building accuracy. Students solve math facts without any time pressure, allowing them to think carefully and build understanding. If they make a mistake, the correct answer is shown, and the student retypes it before moving on. This reinforces learning through repetition. The game takes place in a playful, dungeon-style setting where students help a knight move forward by answering correctly.
2. Fluency Animal Life
At this theme, students work on both speed and accuracy with light time constraints. The timer counts up, not down, to reduce pressure. The activity is set in a cozy animal-themed world that provides encouraging feedback. Students have:
Up to 15 seconds per fact in Grades 1–2
Up to 10 seconds in Grades 3–5
3. Number Gym
This final theme focuses on review and reinforcement. Students revisit facts they didn’t master under time pressure. In this untimed environment, they work on accuracy without any rush. Once they improve, those facts are reintroduced in timed practice — ensuring students build fluency step by step, with the support they need.
