Math is one of those subjects that often get a reputation for being difficult or even boring. For some kids, even the thought of math makes them want to tune out and lose focus. How can you help make math more fun for these reluctant learners?
Like any other subject, the key to making math seem more enticing to your students lies in how you teach. It’s easy to fall back on the same old boring textbooks and worksheets year after year, but if you want to excite your students and encourage a love of learning, you’ll need to mix things up a little.
Here are some tips for teachers who want to make teaching math more fun. Your students will enjoy the change of pace, and you may find that these tips make teaching math a little more enjoyable, too.
If your students have ever complained that math is just too dull, maybe it’s time you break out the board games. Using games to teach mathematical concepts isn’t a new idea, but it’s often overlooked because of time restraints or the fact that it’s hard to oversee an entire classroom full of kids playing the same game.
Luckily, technology has made it easy to gamify your math lessons. Online math games that track each student’s progress let you see who needs help and which lessons students may be struggling with. Card games can often be played quickly and easily show how math is used in gameplay.
For some students, math can seem too abstract to be enjoyable. When you can’t see exactly how complex mathematical concepts directly affect your life, it can be hard to get excited about learning them.
Bring math into the real world by demonstrating how it’s used in your students’ daily lives. Giving them a heads-up on how math affects taxes, wages, and even personal budgets will not only make math more interesting but will help students feel more confident in their everyday lives.
Don’t forget that math doesn’t just apply to boring concepts like taxes, time, and money. Remind your students that everything from video games to Tik Tok algorithms involves the use of math, and if they know how math affects the things they love, they’ll know how to get more out of them.
If you’re using the same techniques to teach math day after day, you run the risk of losing student interest. Diversify your approach to teaching, and you’ll be more likely to meet your students’ needs better and keep them interested in learning.
Offer a variety of ways to learn math. Some kids do better with repetition and worksheets, but others may need a more hands-on approach. Balance the use of consumables with time doing math online. Let kids work in small groups if they seem to learn better when working with peers.
Need a simple way to gauge what lessons your students are struggling with? Why not have an informal ‘Ask Me Anything’ or AMA session where students can ask you to explain concepts they find tricky? You could even accept questions anonymously, so no one has to feel ashamed about a lack of knowledge.
While some students may love math and claim it as their favorite subject, you’ll often find others who would rather be in any other class but math class. Believe it or not, you may be able to use this to your advantage when trying to make math lessons more fun.
Math isn’t a subject that exists in a vacuum. It integrates with other subjects spectacularly well, even language arts. You can try having students create word problems relating to books that they’re reading or television programs they enjoy.
It’s easier to see how math relates to science and technology, but math teachers can often overlook the relationship and get too bogged down in textbook teaching to connect the two. Try and take the time to connect math to as many other subjects as possible to show the natural relationship to your students. Not only will this help them feel more comfortable with learning new math lessons, but they’ll enjoy making these connections on their own, too.
Social media is a large part of many students’ lives, whether we like it or not. While social media can be a distraction, savvy teachers may also use it as a fun way to teach math skills.
Why not make YouTube videos that explain math concepts in a fun or exciting way? You could also use platforms like Tik Tok or Instagram to share fun and interesting math lessons or information that could be helpful for your students. By meeting kids where they’re already spending time, you could find it easier to inspire them to learn.
At De Alba Math Center, we understand the struggles that teachers face. Math can be challenging for some students at the best of times, but with the stress of recent years, teaching has become even more of a challenge.
Our printed and online resources make teaching math more accessible and more engaging. Our resources are fully STAAR aligned and compatible with several online platforms such as Google Classrooms, Microsoft Teams, and Schoology. We’re committed to helping you make learning better for your 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students, so contact us today to see how we can help make math fun for your students.
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