In this episode, Gene Tavernetti interviews Steve Hare, a long-time classroom math teacher and the creator of the You Teach You book series and Fact Freaks, a free math fact website. They discuss the importance of learning math facts, the motivation behind Fact Freaks, and how Steve's instructional strategies evolved, especially during COVID-19.

Topics include:

techniques for improving math education
student individualized learning
impact of worked examples on student understanding.

00:00 Introduction

00:42 Steve Hare's Background

01:18 Importance of Math Facts

02:01 Creation of Fact Freaks

02:53 Fact Freaks Accessibility

03:38 Development and Evolution of Fact Freaks

04:24 The Need for 100% Accuracy

06:03 Impact of Speed on Accuracy

08:03 Implementation in Classrooms

16:15 Benefits of Worked Examples

13:32 Overcoming COVID-19 Challenges

21:31 Encouraging Student Independence

22:46 Managing Differentiated Classrooms

27:55 Teacher and Student Benefits

36:40 Conclusion and Resources

This podcast sponsored by:

The Bell Ringer, a weekly newsletter providing news, tools, and resources on the science of learning, written by education reporter Holly Korbey. Subscribe here.

Murmuration Author Services by Mark Combes. Looking to write your first book? Murmuration Author Services is your friend and coach for this journey. Learn more here.

Fact Freaks and Building Math Fluency with Steve Hare