What should educators avoid referencing before students master number facts?

Educators should avoid referencing the commutative property before students have mastered number facts because understanding this property relies on a solid grasp of addition and multiplication facts. The commutative property states that the order in which you add or multiply numbers does not change the result (for example, 3 + 5 is the same as 5 + 3). If students have not yet memorized their basic number facts, introducing this concept can lead to confusion. They may struggle to see how it applies to their calculations, which could hinder their overall mathematical understanding and confidence. Mastery of number facts provides a foundation that makes it easier for students to comprehend more abstract concepts like properties of operations.