Kids’ engagement in school is hard to keep these days. Getting your students interested in math doesn’t have to be complicated. I was never a math whiz myself. I didn’t enjoy teaching it until I started adding engagement strategies into my lessons. It changed everything for my students and me.
If you’ve been using all worksheets, it’s time to add some variety to your math routine. Here are three ways to get your students interested in math and refocused.
#1 Use a practice activity that has a “fun” element to it
All worksheets are not created equal. While there’s nothing wrong with straight worksheet math practice, adding a fun element can pique your students’ interest in math.
Try a math mystery picture instead of assigning a worksheet from a workbook. Students solve the math problems and reveal part of a mystery picture with each correct answer. They’re available as printable solve and color activities or digital Google Sheets solve and reveal activities. Your kids will seriously love these and not want to quit until they finish!
#2 Add a little friendly competition to math review
A little bit of friendly competition is sure to get your students interested in math!
I always built in one day for review at the end of a math unit using my Review Bowl math games. It’s something students looked forward to, and one way I was able to get every student involved in reviewing. These games play like Jeopardy and are competitively fun. Students will be begging to play again once you introduce Review Bowls in your classroom.
#3 Use a performance task in place of a test for a math standard
You can only see so much of what a student understands on a traditional pencil-paper test. Using a performance task in place of a test can demonstrate their knowledge, understanding, and proficiency of a standard.
One example of a performance task that does this well is Mission: Design a Park for Multiplying Fractions by Whole Numbers. Students follow the given criteria to determine the amount of space each park amenity requires and design a park. It’s a fun way for students to show what they know.
Multiply Fractions by Whole Numbers Activity | Math Project Based Learning PBL
Mission: Design a Park is a performance task that allows students to creatively practice multiplying a fraction by a whole number. Students follow the given criteria to determine the amount of space each park amenity requires. This activity is intended to be used after teaching multiplying fractions.
