Make math engaging and fun
We explore strategies that make math captivating for students, transforming a dreaded subject into an exciting and approachable adventure.
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Why is it important to engage students in math?
Math can be a challenging subject for many students, and every student will engage with your class content in different ways. We need to help them see that math is fascinating, how it affects everyday life and how it continually shapes the world we live in.
Engaging students in math is a balancing act. It’s all about striking that magic balance between building knowledge and skills, and the natural wonder and curiosity of learning. Every student should have a rich experience.
Mathematics equips students with uniquely powerful ways to describe, analyze and change the world. Math helps to develop critical thinking and decision making skills. People who are functional in math are independent thinkers who can reason, problem solve, and risk assess.
Surprisingly math is described as a creative discipline. The language of mathematics is international. It transcends cultural boundaries and its importance is universally recognized.
When we talk about student engagement, we refer to a learner’s interest and excitement for learning. When our students are engaged, they are invested in learning. This makes them more likely to persevere through challenges.
Why is student engagement important?
Student engagement in math is incredibly important. If students are engaged they will:
- have a better attitude toward school.
- participate in class
- complete and submit their homework
- persevere through more challenging problems
- produce higher quality work
- attend school more consistently
- develop a deeper understanding of the content
- perform better on standardized assessments
Students who are engaged may demonstrate this in many different ways, including:
- actively listening
- asking and answering questions
- using class hand signals to communicate
- nodding or shaking their head
- looking at the person who is talking
- following teacher cues
- telling a partner how they solved a problem
- reading math problems
- writing about which strategy they selected and why
- solving a math problem using math manipulatives
- presenting a math project to the class
How to boost student engagement in math
Every student learns differently. That means that every student will also engage with lessons in a different way and at a different pace. That in turn means that there isn’t one magic recipe to boost every student’s engagement level in our math classes. By building some of the six strategies below into your math lessons, new life might just be breathed into your classroom. You may start to see students being more engaged, collaborating more, and solving more math problems independently, and willingly.
Games and puzzles are a great way to get students engaged in math. They can help students learn new concepts, practice their skills, and have fun at the same time.
Games and puzzles are a great way to get students engaged in math. They can help students learn new concepts, practice their skills, and have fun at the same time.
6 resources to promote engagement in math
- Math games: Interactive games that combine learning and fun, making math enjoyable for all ages.
- Math apps: Mobile applications, like Equatio, are designed to engage learners through gamified math practice and interactive challenges.
- Math websites: Online platforms offering a variety of math activities, lessons, and resources to cater to different learning styles.
- Math manipulatives: Digital tools that simulate physical manipulatives, providing a hands-on experience for learners. Check out Equatio mathspace as a great example of this.
- Competitions: Participating in math competitions can inspire students to excel, while fostering a sense of camaraderie and achievement.
- Clubs and enrichment programs: Joining math clubs or enrolling in enrichment programs can provide additional opportunities for exploration and learning beyond the classroom.
Teaching methods for math
There are many different ways to teach math and the best method for a particular student will vary depending on their learning style. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most common teaching methods in the math classroom.
Tools that support engaging math classrooms
The right digital tools can make math more interactive, visual, and accessible for all learners. They help students explore ideas in new ways and give teachers flexible options to boost engagement.
Equatio lets students show their math thinking through typing, handwriting, or voice input. Its interactive features, like graphing and manipulatives, help bring abstract concepts to life and support more hands-on, engaging lessons.
Equals Mathematics uses multi-sensory, concrete materials to help students understand math concepts through movement, touch, and visual models. This supports deeper engagement, especially for students who learn best through hands-on exploration.
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