“Memorizing mathematical facts is the most important step in understanding mathematics. Math facts are the building blocks of all other mathematical concepts, and memorizing them makes them readily available” (EHow Contributor, 2011). To clarify, a mathematical fact is a base-10 calculation of single-digit numbers. Examples of basic math facts include addition and multiplication problems such as 1 + 1, 4 + 5, 3 x 5 and their opposites, 2 – 1, 9 – 4, 15/5 (Marques, 2010 and Yermish, 2011). Typically, these facts are memorized at grade levels deemed appropriate for the student's level of preparation – usually second or third grade for addition and subtraction and fourth grade for multiplication and division. If a child can say the answer to a math problem within a couple of seconds, this is considered mastery (Marques, 2010). Automaticity – the point at which something is automatic – is the goal when referring to mathematical facts. Students are expected to be able to remember facts without spending time thinking about them, counting on their fingers, using manipulatives, etc. (Yermish, 2011). To become a fluent reader, a person must memorize the sounds made by letters and the sounds made by those letters when combined with other letters. Knowing math facts and number combinations is equally critical to becoming fluent in math. Numbers are to mathematics what the alphabet is to reading, without them a person cannot be fully successful. (Yermish, 2011 and Marquez, 2010). A “known” fact is one that is “answered automatically and correctly without counting” (Greenwald, 2011). For a child to achieve academically, he or she must master basic facts. A child's progress in problem solving, algebra, and higher order math concepts is negatively affected by a lack of...... half of a sheet of paper, but offers no assistance in learning a concept (Mahoney and Knowles, 2010). The automaticity of math facts is beneficial to all math learning. Fortunately, there are ways to help students learn basic facts without skills and drills. Explicit strategy instruction is more effective than encouraging rigorous rote memorization (Woodward, 2006). However, many teachers are unsure how to help students master the facts. Too many educators still have misconceptions about how students learn facts and how they store them in long-term memory (Baroody, 1985). Some people argue that students no longer need to learn to calculate now that calculators are widely available. “Although ease of single-digit calculation is far from the primary goal of elementary school mathematics, it is an important skill that provides the foundation for many other topics” (Burton and Knifong, 1982).