XtraMath

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My students love XtraMath, so I of course attended the beginning-of-year professional development to try something new this school year.

Attended an online Zoom professional development session titled Welcome Back: Kick Off Your Fluency Sprint with XtraMath, led by Dr. Amanda Slaten, former classroom teacher and math fact‑fluency researcher. The 30‑minute session focused on launching a beginning‑of‑year Fluency Sprint and sustaining fluency growth throughout the school year.

 

Key Takeaways

  • Placement Quiz First — A quick 3‑minute diagnostic recommended before students begin practice. Typically completed within 2–3 days.
  • Daily Consistency Matters — Short, focused practice sessions (10 minutes daily) help move math facts into long‑term memory.
  • Middle School Struggles Persist — Research shared by Dr. Slaten shows many middle school students still lack automaticity with basic facts, reinforcing the importance of early intervention.

 

Differentiation & Student Support

  • Individualized Pathways — XtraMath adjusts to each learner’s needs after the Placement Quiz.
  • IEP & Conference Support — Printable matrices help identify strengths, gaps, and progress over time.
  • Tier I & II Intervention — Dr. Slaten highlighted XtraMath as a strong resource for PLCs to identify small‑group needs and instructional next steps.Can help with IEP’s by looking at the Matrixes and can also be printed out for conferences.

 

Fluency Goals & Monitoring

  • 3‑Second Goal — Recommended benchmark for fact recall based on current fluency research.
  • Learning Gaps — If a student remains stuck on the same section for 3–4 days, adjustments or additional support may be needed.

Extensions & Enrichment

  • Advanced Timed Practice — For students who master grade‑level material, practice times can be reduced to 2 minutes, then 1.5 minutes.
  • Awakening Game (Optional) — Available after practice sessions if enabled; students begin by building an avatar.
  • Printable Resources — Additional materials available for classroom use.Resources available to print.

·        Motivation & Incentives

·        Providing incentives is recommended to help students stay engaged and celebrate progress.

 


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