From Fluency to Acceleration: Building Strong Foundations and Responsive Math Instruction

Adaptable to your schedule! Join us for an individual session or both days.

Date: July 13 and 14
Presenters: Brian Poncy, PhD
Grades: 2-5
Location: Virtual
Credits: NYCTLE credits – 3 hours per full-day workshop, 6 hours for full institute

This two-day experience helps educators build strong math foundations through fluency and respond effectively to student needs. Day 1 focuses on embedding Tier 1 practices that promote accuracy, efficiency, and deeper understanding, while Day 2 centers on using data to match and adjust interventions. Together, the sessions provide practical tools to support all students in making meaningful progress.

Day 1: From Fluency to Impact: Strengthening Math Foundations Through Practice and Tier 1 Support

Description

How do students move from basic understanding to confident, flexible problem solving in math? It starts with fluency. In this session, we’ll explore why accuracy and efficiency with foundational skills matter and how fluency supports deeper learning by reducing cognitive load, increasing practice opportunities, and strengthening retention. Participants will then translate research into action by planning practical Tier 1 routines that build fluency, align across grade levels, and support all learners.

Key Learning Objectives

• explain why fluency matters and how it supports student learning, retention, and transfer
• connect fluency to deeper math understanding and success with more complex concepts
• apply practical Tier 1 strategies to build fluency within daily instruction
• use assessment to identify student needs and monitor progress
• plan for aligned and sustainable implementation across classrooms and grade levels

Day 2: From Matching to Momentum: Using Data to Select and Strengthen Math Interventions

Description:

How can we ensure we’re choosing the right intervention—and know what to do when it’s not working? This session supports educators in using data to both match instruction to student needs and make thoughtful adjustments when progress stalls. Participants will explore the Instructional Hierarchy as a practical framework for identifying where students are in their learning (acquisition, fluency, generalization, adaptation) and selecting targeted strategies to support them. Then, we’ll build on this foundation with a clear, step-by-step problem-solving process to troubleshoot non-responders—examining factors like skill selection, instructional approach, practice opportunities, and student engagement. Teachers will leave with concrete tools and routines to confidently adjust instruction and accelerate student progress.

Key Learning Objectives

• use the Instructional Hierarchy to identify student skill stages and match appropriate interventions
• select and apply targeted strategies (e.g., structured practice routines) to build accuracy, fluency, and generalization
• use a data-based problem-solving process to identify why a student may not be responding to intervention
• adjust instruction strategically by examining skill alignment, instructional methods, practice (dose), and task difficulty
• set goals and monitor progress to evaluate effectiveness and ensure students are making meaningful gains