Automaticity in math is akin to reading fluency in literacy. Just as a confident reader demonstrates understanding through rhythm and pacing, a skilled math learner engages with numbers in a smooth, flowing manner. This seamless thought process allows for easy transitions between steps in multi-digit operations, algebraic reasoning, and problem interpretation.

It is relatively common for young or struggling readers to make reversal errors. This could be mixing up b's and d's or p's and q's or even flipping was with saw. Often times parents take this as a sign that their child must be dyslexic! That's not necessarily the case! So we developed this miniature intervention to help remediate b/d reversal errors.

She asked me, “How much time a day would I have to devote to meeting what she needs for summer school? Where do I find out about everything the school needs for her to be able to do? Some people showed me some pretty expensive and time consuming programs, should I consider these?.”

I responded. “I think you can do everything you need for her this summer in about an hour a day, Monday through Friday.  Education is not about checklists and meeting requirements; it’s about her learning and gaining essential skills so she can achieve a love of learning and accomplishment.

1. Remedial instruction should not be carried out during activities that the student loves. 

This often involves some sacrifice and flexibility from the instructor. After school may seem like a prime time for tutoring, but if this is the time the student could be or wants to be in extracurricular activities, you may be encouraging failure.  Students have been taken out of PE and art for Great Leaps, not realizing these times may be the only reason a child comes to school. All efforts must be made to select a time preferable for all. Putting together a plan for success involves thinking about a variety of issues.

Very early in the Great Leaps Reading history, we were called a fluency program. This would make sense IF you correctly define fluency. Here are three definitions that are right on point:

Reading Rockets writes, “Fluency is defined as the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression.