For some us, math isn’t the most exciting subject to teach. I have never been able to get excited about algorithms and numbers the way some of my coworkers do.
If your math instruction isn’t what you want it to be, sometimes you just need to put a little of yourself into the instruction to make it come alive. Many districts dictate exactly what program or lessons must be used. But why not try to incorporate some fun into your daily math routine? Break your whole group instruction into small group rotations and provide more opportunities for fun practice. It will help you and your students love math just a little bit more!
Here are 6 ways you can liven up your math instruction...
Number Talks
If you are looking to strengthen your students’ mental computation while simultaneously improving their mathematical reasoning, Number Talks are perfect! These 5-10 minute chats can be done whole group or with small groups. The best part of Number Talks is that the students drive the direction of the talk. As the teacher you design the skill or idea that will be the focus of the Number Talk. For example: subtraction across zeros, double-digit addition, etc. But based on the abilities and the interests of the students, these talks will differentiate themselves! Number Talks can be a way to introduce, practice, or review a concept. Most importantly these chats get your students looking at numbers differently and making connections beyond what the text book can do!
This 15-minute video explains Number Talks and gives excellent examples:
Fluency Sprints
When students have automaticity of math facts the students can work with more ease when applying the skills. Focusing on math fact mastery only takes a few minutes a day to make a big difference. Students can work on fluency with worksheets, computer games, timed tasks, or basic flash card practice. Is anyone having flashbacks to playing Around the World in elementary school? Any math lesson can take a few minutes of fact practice to build up those foundational skills. Giving an inventory test will give you the information needed to be able to differentiate the practice that is needed. Using less than 5 minutes of instruction to hone in on fluency will have long-term impacts on your overall math instruction.
Fluency Challenges
Each year we create a challenge to motivate the students to master their multiplication facts. We begin testing the 0, 1, and 2’s. Once the students master those, we have a pattern that we follow that seems to be helpful in their ability to master all the facts up to 12s. Every few days we re-inventory the progress so each student can test their mastery wherever they are in the sequence. This is a great job for a parent volunteer to do when they come in to help. We give the students goals and deadlines. Students who master all 12 earn a dance party celebration. For the kids that don’t quite make it we have a fact practice party in the classroom while the others are dancing in another room. We make sure to celebrate all student success.
You can find a complete system for learning the multiplication facts here:
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| Student Reward Tags Hanging Proudly on Display |
Interactive Notebooks
Any skill can be broken down in order to be introduced or practiced using an interactive notebook page. It is a fun way to bring in some cutting, pasting, and colored paper into the equation. I have the students bring in composition notebooks at the beginning of the year so we can use them when I want to add an interactive element to my instruction. If you aren’t comfortable committing to a whole notebook, interactive pieces can be glued onto a piece of construction paper that the students take home at the end of the lesson. Additionally, these tasks can become a bulletin board that will brighten the room and provide a reference for learning.
Digital Fun
Our students love to play games on their iPads and Chromebooks. Many of the games infuse math practice and imaginative game play to motivate.
The popular site in my class right now is Prodigy. You can find it here: https://www.prodigygame.com/ They would play all day if we let them. But it has a nice sampling of skills that they need to work through in order to master the levels of the game.
A great app to work on fluency is Flash to Pass. There are different levels and a timer to help students track their own progress with particular facts or operations. I oftentimes recommend this app for parents who are looking for ideas to support their child at home. Available for iPad/iPhone only: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashtopass-free-math-flash-cards/id330482882
Task Cards
I love putting task cards into my math instruction. When students feel like they are playing a game the work isn’t so painful! Students can complete the cards independently or in pairs. Most of my task cards have a work space sheet so answers can be checked for accuracy and accountability. These cards get the students out of their seats and working with others on the skills that need to be practiced. Task cards work well in a center or can be placed around the room to play a game of Scoot.
You can find task cards for every standard here:
Math can be a subject that many students and teachers shy away from. With a little bit of tweaking and some adjustments in your plans, practice and lessons can be fun and engaging. It’s a win-win for everyone!