Summary
Using effective teaching strategies for math is important to improve student learning and cultivate a positive classroom environment. Teachers have many things to do, so it is essential to keep it simple but effective. We need to ensure we are using strategies that will significantly impact our students' learning. What strategies do you need to try out or tweak in your classroom?
Using effective teaching strategies for math is important to improve student learning and cultivate a positive classroom environment. Teachers have many things to do, so it is essential to keep it simple but effective. We need to ensure we are using strategies that will significantly impact our students’ learning. What strategies do you need to try out or tweak in your classroom?
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Students who feel successful in math class are happier and more engaged in learning. Check out The Bonus Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys to use in your classroom. You can also sign up to receive other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
As I work with new and experienced teachers each year, I see how overwhelmed they are. As a result, I have narrowed down what I have learned to be the most beneficial teaching strategies.
What Are Instructional Strategies for Math?
Instructional teaching strategies are a teacher’s methods, techniques, and processes during instruction. Teachers use these strategies to help students become independent, strategic learners.
Teaching Strategies for Elementary Math
Here are 7 simple yet effective instructional strategies for mathematics that you can weave into your daily practice.
Growth Mindset Classroom and Cultivating a Positive Classroom Environment
Research shows a link between a growth mindset in mathematics and math success. Kids with a growth mindset about their abilities perform better and are more engaged in the classroom.
People with growth mindsets believe 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.
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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.👉Includes everything you need to start cultivating a more positive math classroom and students who love math. Download and get started today! Click here to download the Mindset Guide & Survey.
Instructional Strategies for Math
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 definition for 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 a 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. A Mindset Survey for students is included in the Bonus Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom. Sign up here to receive this free resource.
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 are a great way to embed these messages.
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 Games for Students
Integrating technology into your math lessons can improve your teaching and motivate students to learn. For example, using manipulatives, you can make your math lessons hands-on and interactive. These can be in-person or digital manipulatives.
Best Teaching Strategies for Math
Another way to help your students love math is with games. There are so many fun math games to play in your classroom. In addition, having students do puzzles in math or other engaging activities help build a positive attitude toward 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 with the whole class, in a 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 to read more about using math puzzles.
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.
Best Strategies for Teaching Math
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 the classroom setup to encourage collaboration 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 shows students that math is all around them. It is not just a subject in school but something they will use daily. Students who see it as necessary and valuable are more motivated to learn.
When the real-world connection is incorporated into lessons, students can 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.
Incorporating math literature into lessons is an easy way to make the connection between math and the real world.
Teaching Methods For Math
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 among students.
Hands on and Visual Teaching Strategies Used in Mathematics
Conceptual learning in mathematics focuses on teaching math by concepts rather than asking students to memorize isolated facts, methods, or formulas. One way students can demonstrate conceptual understanding is by solving a math problem while articulating what they are doing.
The Concrete- Representational- Abstract model (CRA) is a system of learning where systems use concrete resources (e.g. base ten blocks, counters, fraction bars) when they are introduced to a new skill, Then, they begin to use visual representations (pictures) and abstract representations (numbers and symbols) of the problems. Students can be fluid in the stages and can be moving between the stages.
For students to develop a conceptual understanding of concepts, we need them to have these hands-on learning experiences in math.
Communication Teaching Methods Used in Mathematics
When students explain their thinking about a math problem, it gives the teacher insight into a student’s thinking and ability to use math language.
Discourse is the mathematical talk that occurs in a classroom. Effective discourse happens when students articulate their ideas and consider their peers’ ideas to construct mathematical understandings.
Teachers must provide opportunities for students to talk to each other and share their thoughts
Effective Teaching Strategies for Math
- Think-Pair-ShareStrategy (Student Thinks, Talks with a Partner, Shares out)
- Having Students Work in Partners (Turn and Talk)
- Whole Class Discussions
- Using Sentence Stems
- Model Explaining Answers
Differentiated Learning in Math Class
Differentiated math instruction refers to the collection of techniques, strategies, and adaptations you can use to reach your diverse group of learners and make mathematics accessible to every single one. By applying various tools and strategies, such as incorporating technology, using math tools, and teaching in small math groups, you can help every student meet expectations.
Differentiated learning can be as simple as having students use a concrete math tool or scaffolding the assignment. In addition, pulling small groups based on students’ needs allows teachers to meet students where they are.
how-to-teach-math-in-a-fun-wayHow to Teach Math in a Fun Way
I want all students to see the beauty of mathematics and how important it is in our lives. We need to show students that math can be fun by playing games and connecting the learning to their lives.
Using seasonal or real-world learning tasks, incorporating technology, and reading books are all ways to teach math in a fun way. For example, I had students design their own zoo and determine the area and perimeter of their enclosures.
Additional Resources on Math Teaching Strategies
- Four Teacher-Recommended Instructional Strategies for Math by Edweek
- 7 Strategies for Differentiated Math Instruction
What are Instructional Strategies in Teaching?
What Are Teaching Strategies?
Incorporating these 7 teaching strategies into your math classroom will lead to student academic success and a growth mindset classroom. So let’s keep it simple by focusing on these key ingredients to foster a productive and happy classroom.
Don’t forget to download the bonus Guide for Creating a Growth Mindset Classroom and Students Who Love Math for ideas, lessons, and mindset surveys to use in your classroom. You can also sign up to receive other freebies from me Here at Easternshoremathteacher.com.
Let me know how I can support you and your teaching. What teaching strategies for math do you want to learn more about?
