Overview: The QuickSmart Numeracy intervention program focuses on understanding and recall of basic number facts, performance of elementary calculations, acquisition of appropriate mathematics language, and problem-solving skills. The primary aim of QuickSmart is for the students to develop automaticity. QuickSmart lessons emphasise the development of conceptual understanding. Conceptual understanding is ensured by explicitly teaching strategies that emphasise the key concepts underpinning the academic skills being taught.
QuickSmart was awarded highest ratings in the field of Education on research Engagement and Impact by the Australian Research Council (ARC) in its national assessment of research contribution to the broader community and the economy.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A QUICKSMART NUMERACY INFORMATION FLYER
Numeracy Program Description
Lessons feature both structured and incidental strategy instruction, with the aim of moving students on from relying on slow and error-prone strategies (especially count-by-one strategies), to the use of more sophisticated and efficient strategies, including automatic recall.
Each lesson involves the teaching number facts, a number of guided, deliberate practice activities featuring overt self-talk, discussion and practice of memory and retrieval strategies, timed speed sheet activities followed by independent practice activities, and an educational game. Once the program is established, at least one lesson a week focuses on problem-solving strategies and activities.
The program is grounded in automaticity theory; students must achieve immediate recall of basic number facts to free up working memory for complex mathematical problem-solving. Research demonstrates that students who lack automaticity in basic skills struggle with multi-step problems and higher-order mathematical thinking because their cognitive resources are consumed by simple calculations.
QuickSmart Numeracy students develop automatic recall of basic number facts, enabling them to tackle complex mathematical problems with confidence. The program’s emphasis on strategy instruction and problem-solving prepares students for grade-level mathematics content and reduces mathematics anxiety. The program provides schools with a research-validated approach to numeracy intervention that delivers quantifiable improvements in mathematical fluency and problem-solving capability.
Numeracy Lesson Structure
QuickSmart Numeracy consists of three 30-minute lessons weekly for 30 weeks (SiMERR recommends approximately 90 lessons in total). Students work in pairs with the same instructor, ideally matched by similar numeracy learning obstacles. Trained teachers or teacher aides deliver the program under qualified teacher supervision.
The intervention uses varied, focused activities to increase strategy use and improve automatic recall of basic number facts across all four operations. Sessions consolidate calculation strategies and use prompt scaffolds for problem-solving routines.
Each lesson begins with reviewing current Focus Number Facts, where students demonstrate understanding by discussing and explaining their strategies. If students lack proficient understanding, instructors develop their comprehension before proceeding to practice.
Other lesson elements include:
- Flash Cards for developing automatic recall
- Speed sheets featuring focus facts and extensions
- Independent Worksheets for practicing skills on content-related materials
- Testing using QuickSmart Basic Skills Assessor (QBSA) mathematical tasks*
- Games designed to complement focus facts and motivate learning consolidation
*QBSA assessment and instruction tasks include:
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division number facts
- Triple addition tasks (e.g., 7 + 4 + 3)
What is included in the purchase?
Professional Development
- The QuickSmart Numeracy program includes 6 days (3×2-day workshops) of Basic Skills Professional Development training for up to five staff members in the first year of the program
Physical Resources
- 1 x QuickSmart Numeracy Kit
- Flash cards for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division from 0-12
- Strategy cards for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
- 4 x different dice
- 1 x Stopwatch
- Set of counters in four different colours
- Dominoes game
- Double 0 game
- Maths Language game
- 1 x QuickSmart Numeracy Games Pack
- Bingo
- Three-in-a-row
- 1 x Resource & Organisation Folder containing master copies of focus fact sheets, speed sheets and problem-solving sheets
- 1 x USB microphone
- 1 x Sample student folder
- 2 x User Guides
Three-Year Digital Resources and Assessment Tool Access Licence
- 3-year QBSA application licence
- 3-year access to the Numeracy digital Program Resources of the QuickSmart Portal, which includes extra resources and digital copies of all of the above paper resources
- 3-year access to an online SpeedSheet Generator
- An annual “end-of-program” school report based on data provided to SiMERR for analysis
- Downloadable independent worksheets (addition and subtraction are currently available, multiplication and division will be released in late 2025)
Ongoing program, administration and IT phone and email support