Are you wondering how to make math more engaging? Do you sometimes look around your classroom and see kids disengaged? Teachers don’t need to put on a song and a dance but there are a few things to consider when planning an engaging math lesson. Many of these strategies are not just for math class, they work for all areas to improve student engagement.
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- 🧠💪Research shows a link between a growth mindset and math success. Kids with a growth mindset about their abilities perform better and are more engaged in the classroom.
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It has become my goal to increase student engagement in math so they can continue to be motivated to learn. I have always enjoyed math class and therefore have always enjoyed teaching math. When I meet students who tell me how much they dislike math, it makes me sad. Most children early on enjoy math, but many lose their appreciation for the subject as they get older. What happened to these students that they lost their love of math? Student’s need to see the importance of math and how fun it can be. This is not done by worksheet after worksheet of math problems.
What is Student Engagement, and Why is it Important?
Student engagement “refers to the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning or being taught, which extends to the level of motivation they have to learn and progress in their education,” according to The Glossary of Education Reform.
The more students are engaged in the learning process, the more motivated they are to learn, and therefore more successful they are. Therefore, student engagement is essential if we want students to learn and love math. So how do we achieve this?
What Does Student Engagement Look Like?
Student engagement can be hard to define, but it means they are active in the learning. Having students quietly sit through a math lesson is not an actively engaged student. An engaged student actively asks and responds to questions, thinks about their learning, and tries to make sense of the new information. Student engagement and motivation lead to success.
Student engagement is when students show up to class excited to learn, participate in learning and demonstrate a positive attitude.
Types of Student Engagement
- Behavioral Engagement is when students actively participate in the learning process. For example, they show up on time, turn in their work and bring the materials they need for class. They also participate in class discussions, do what their teacher says and consistently try their best.
- Emotional Engagement is when students have a positive outlook on their educational experience. Students feel like they’re a part of the school community and are happy to be there! They greet you with a smile, interact positively with their classmates and look alert during your lessons.
- Cognitive Engagement is when students try to learn as much as they can. Not only do they pay attention in class, but they also ask thought-provoking questions and go beyond what you ask them to do. They ask challenging questions and often go above and beyond when completing assignments.
How to Make Math Engaging?
Here are strategies that will help increase student engagement and motivation that you can use in your classroom today.
Foster Relationships
When students form close and caring relationships with their teachers and classmates, they feel like they belong. This creates a positive environment in which students are motivated and encouraged to participate and learn.
When students feel like they belong, they feel safe to take risks and make mistakes. Students need to understand that struggle is an essential part of the learning process and embrace it. Mistakes should be seen as a standard and valuable part of the learning process. A classroom where learning from mistakes is welcome fosters growth mindsets.
Try out this All about Me Using Numbers activity to learn more about your students and start building relationships.
Improving Mindset
Research shows that there is a link between a growth mindset and math success. Kids who have a growth mindset about their abilities perform better and are more engaged in the classroom.
People with growth mindsets believe that they can develop their skills, talents, and abilities over time with hard work, effort, and perseverance. Thus, our qualities are not inherent, but our willingness to learn, effort, and persistence determine how well we do.
For every student who dislikes math, there is one who enjoys the subject. The difference sometimes comes down to their mindset. Research has shown that teaching students the concept of a growth mindset and how they can harness its power can positively impact student achievement. They need to learn that they can achieve in all areas and that struggling is part of the process. We need to help them understand the connection between effort and improvement.
I like to give this Math Mindset Survey for students as a starting point before talking about growth mindset. Then again, at the end of the year, see how their mindset changed through practice and effort.
Introducing students to these ideas by reading books, showing videos, and having discussions throughout the year will foster a growth mindset classroom. Over time, students will start using the language of someone with a growth mindset. Posters and Visuals with Growth Mindset terminology around the Classroom is a great way to embed these messages. Click Here for 6 Growth Mindset Classroom Display Free Posters.
To read more about this, you can also check out 5 Powerful Ideas to Help Students Develop a Growth Mindset in Mathematics.
Student Engagement with Technology & Engaging Math Games
Integrating technology into your math lessons can improve your teaching and motivate students to learn. You can make your math lessons hands-on and interactive by using manipulatives. These can be in person or digital manipulatives.
Another way to help your students love math is with games. There are so many fun math games to play in your classroom. Having students do puzzles in math or other engaging activities helps build a positive attitude towards math.
The 24 Game is a great game to build fact fluency. Visit my website, and I will send you 71 Puzzles in Math with Answers for free to use with students. These can be used whole class, small group, or even printed and hung on a bulletin board.
Check out How to Use Engaging Math Puzzles for Fun to Build Number Sense.
Incorporating Collaboration
Providing time for students to work together and solve problems using collaboration and communication is essential for seeing the joy in mathematics. This could be as simple as having students turn and talk to each other or work on a problem together.
Students learn from each other, and collaborating and sharing strategies get students more engaged and motivated to work. Therefore, it is essential to think about engagement strategies classroom setup at the beginning of the year. How will you set up your classroom to promote student engagement and allow for student collaboration?
Finding ways to set up your classroom with the idea of collaboration and communication is essential for a productive classroom.
Making Real-Life Connections
Making real-life connections can help show students that math is all around them. It is not just a subject in school but something they will use every day. When students see it as necessary and valuable, they are more motivated to learn.
When the real-world connection is incorporated into lessons, students have the opportunity to see how math fits into their daily lives. In turn, math becomes a visible part of their routines instead of a set of abstract concepts in the classroom.
While applying real-world connections in the classroom, teachers can also incorporate personally meaningful experiences with students. For example, incorporating student names, hobbies, or even popular video games can motivate students to learn and keep lessons interesting and relevant. The key to unlocking your student’s love of math is engaging them in their learning.
Another way teachers can incorporate real-world connections into their lessons is through problem-based learning, in which students work in groups to solve open-ended problems. This also supports the strategy of encouraging more collaboration and communication of students.
Engaging Students to Learn in Math Class
Lesson Pacing & Read the Room
Keep your lessons moving and avoid breaks in the lesson. This is any point in a lesson where students are left without something to do. For example, you might be handing out a worksheet, setting up a presentation, or waiting for a YouTube video to load. Unfortunately, these brief windows leave just enough time for students to tune out, which can be challenging to get them back.
Fill these blank spaces with activities to hold students’ attention. These should be quick, easy, and require minimal follow-up. For example:
- Think Pair Share: students reflect on something, discuss it with a partner, and then share it with the rest of the class once everyone is ready
- Quickwrite or Quickdraw: write down three questions or points raised by the lesson so far. Or draw something.
- What I know already: ask students to identify three things they already know about the subject and jot them down as bullet points.
If you’re steadily losing students to doodling, off-topic chatter, or napping, it is time to change what you are doing. It is impossible to have every student engaged 100% of the time but try to notice disengagement and make a change.
Cut the activity short if it’s dragging, clarify instructions if there’s confusion, or switch to a more student-centered activity for greater engagement.
Give Brain Breaks and Movement Breaks
Periodically, give students a breather with brain breaks. These short activities allow students to stretch their legs before returning to work feeling focused.
If your students struggle to sit still for an entire lesson, get them moving. All that energy can be channeled into a learning activity that puts them on their feet. Try the following.
Movement works equally well to engage sluggish or weary students. A quick bit of physical activity will leave them more alert for the next phase of learning.
Try out Go Noodle for some ideas.
Differentiation and Choice
We must think about ensuring that our assignments are differentiated and are creating a purposeful challenge for students at every level. Then, when kids can hit that just right instructional challenge, they’ll keep working to reach their goal.
We increase the likelihood that students will stay engaged when we let them pick and choose elements of the assignments they complete and topics they learn about.
How to Make Math More Fun
Check out these techniques to engage students in learning.
- Four Corners– The teacher poses a question and gives four possible responses. Students go to a corner of the classroom or point to the corner of their screen that matches their response.
- Placemat– Students work in groups of 4 and are given several minutes to respond to a question or prompt. They answer on their part of the placemat. The group is given time to discuss their answers and then agree on the answer. The group writes their final answer in the middle.
- Graffiti– Groups receive a large piece of paper and markers of different colors; students generate ideas and record; groups can move to other papers and discuss/ add ideas.
- Doodle Blast– Students draw a quick doodle (picture, symbols, etc.) of the most important things they’ve just learned. Students explain their doodles to one another. You can even post the doodles around the room and do a quick gallery walk.
- Snowball Fight– Each student writes a question on a piece of paper and crumples it up. All students stand in a circle. The teacher says, “snowball fight,” and participants toss their papers into the center of the circle. Each student picks up a paper and writes an answer to the question. The class discusses the questions and responses.
- Equity Cards and Sticks– Write each student’s name on an index card or stick. Pull a card or stick to call on students and shuffle when you want to mix it up.
- Active Response Cards/Pinch Cards– Students create cards with the responses (yes-no, A-B-C-D-, True-False). Then, students pinch and hold up their answers.
- Showdown-Each student writes his answer/shows work on his response board. When everyone in the group is ready, the leader says, “Showdown.” The team members hold up their work and look for someone theirs connected to. Teachers can call on students with specific strategies and have the student share with a classmate who had a connecting idea.
Where Do You Find Ideas for Student Engagement?
- 5 Powerful Ideas to Help Students Develop a Growth Mindset in Mathematics.
- 5 Best Strategies for Engaging Students to Learn in Mathematics Class
- 7 Easy and Inspiring Ideas for classroom setup of your Math Classroom
- Five Powerful Ideas for Student Engagement
- Engaging Learners in Your Classroom
Engaging Students in Math Class
Engaging students in the learning is essential if we want students to learn and love math. The more students are engaged and motivated to learn, the more successful they will be. They need to see how important math is, and the connection to the real world in order for them to be motivated to learn.
Don’t forget to grab The Free Ultimate Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys to use in your classroom.
Let me know if you try some of these engaging student learning activities in your classroom! Try out these ideas on how to make math more engaging and see results.
