Episode 225 - The New Math Fluency Standards That Were 26 Years in the Making episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 19, 2026 · 11 MIN

Episode 225 - The New Math Fluency Standards That Were 26 Years in the Making

from The Build Math Minds Podcast · host Christina Tondevold

After 26 years, Susan Jo Russell's three-part definition of math fluency - accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility - is finally making its way into state math standards. In this episode, I'm celebrating this long-overdue shift, highlighting recent updates in Washington State and Iowa that now explicitly include flexibility alongside accuracy and efficiency in their fluency standards. Using a relatable cooking analogy, I break down why flexibility isn't just nice-to-have - it's the difference between students who can only follow a procedure and students who can truly think mathematically. I also share where you can learn more to help you make this shift in your own classroom, school, district, or even your state. Let me know whether your state has made this change, head to the comments to let me know where you and your state stands!

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Episode 225 - The New Math Fluency Standards That Were 26 Years in the Making

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This episode was published on April 19, 2026.

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After 26 years, Susan Jo Russell's three-part definition of math fluency - accuracy, efficiency, and flexibility - is finally making its way into state math standards. In this episode, I'm celebrating this long-overdue shift, highlighting recent...

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