Five Methods to Make Math More Meaningful
By Scott B. Freiberger
It’s not difficult to fathom why facts and figures may not be the triggers for light-hearted classroom banter. Many students remain uneasy uncovering utterly abstract facts and seemingly inconsequential suppositions. How can we make math more relevant? Perhaps more importantly, what steps can we take to create more inclusive mathematics classrooms, especially as it pertains to gender equality? In addition, what supports can we offer struggling students? Here are five ways to make math more meaningful.
1. Imagination Station
Learning stations work wonderfully well in English Language Arts (ELA), language learning, and literacy lessons. Why not consider the same convivial concepts for math classes? For example, try establishing three separate learning stations to enhance numeracy skills, and rotate groups among the stations every fifteen minutes. For younger learners, especially, play-based learning may prove particularly pivotal. Play-based learning consists of self-directed play activities that help children build foundational academic and social skills.
As noted by Dr. Ben Fishman in a recent article published in The International Educator, “Play allows students to use their creativity while developing their imagination, physical, cognitive, and emotional vigor. Furthermore, play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them.”
Tic Tac…Doh!
One math station may consist of a “Tic-Tac-Toe” game outline penned on a whiteboard using erasable markers. The math topic and level of difficulty can vary across grades. After a student derives the correct answer to a math problem, she or he could write an “X” or an “O” on the whiteboard, respectively, until one player wins, and the factual fun could begin again.
2. Got Game? Now You Do!
Want to motivate students to learn multiplication and more? It’s well worth your while to make children smile via helpful, heuristic hints from Jacob Melham, a mature mathematics master. His outstanding YouTube channel boasts 2,275 videos supporting all students. From K through 12, it’s time to delve, and learn math can be fun for everyone.
Here and there are some fun math games to consider. You may also want to try:
Choice Classroom Confections
Find well-seasoned ways to make learning as tempting as toasted and buttered Wonder Bread! Take two apple pies and watch all their eyes as students are awed by a scrumptious surprise. What would happen if you cut each pie into two slices? Four slices? Eight slices? How many slices could each student receive? What if you used real apple pies for your measurable surprise (assuming students have no food allergies)? Now that’s what I would call an authentic “hands on” lesson in lunching, munching, and numbers crunching!
Authentic Number Line
For this activity, a number line could be either etched on the floor or drawn on a door (to feel no remorse, use paper, or course). Provide pupils problems to consider using an authentic number line, and model mathematics mechanics in a fun, comprehensible manner. For example, ask students to start at one number and take five steps forward followed by two steps back. For a truly delectable deep data dive, try using Hershey’s Kisses to pose problems and make learning (and taste buds!) truly come alive!
3. Picture This!
As Dr. Jim Hardin, Head of School at the American School in Japan noted, “An education shouldn't be a one-size-fits-all, paint-by-numbers experience, and it ultimately needs to inspire each student’s effort, care, pride, and integrity.” Some students may learn more visually, while others may retain information in a more tactile manner. Consequently, charts, picture books, and other visual aids may help students to fathom novel concepts more seamlessly.
A few bodacious math-related picture books to consider include Bean Thirteen, G is for Googol: A Math Alphabet Book, Spaghetti and Meatballs for All!, and Uno’s Garden. Here is an encompassing list of books to help children learn numbers and counting, addition, subtraction, shapes, and measurements.
4. Suitable Screen Time
One pandemic takeaway is online learning could have measurable, tangible benefits to support classroom instruction. Using a holistic approach to technology integration may also help to tap into student interests, and ample applications and online math-related games could help students to review key concepts and enhance engagement.
For example, Math is Fun boasts great games, particular math puzzles, and singular skills-building challenges. Another wonderful website trusted for math instruction is Khan Academy, a non-profit organization that offers vivid videos, supplementary practice exercises, and helpful resources for educators. Dragon Box is another excellent example of how games may motivate matriculation. The game combines algebraic concepts and myriad multiplication musings so students may thoroughly enjoy the learning process.
5. Keep it Real
A hands-on approach in the math classroom means becoming familiar with foundational formulas, tapping into student talents, and bringing math problems to life through relevant experiences. According to well-respected pedagogue Jacob Melham, mastering math is major because the majority of topics are relevant in true-to-life contexts. “Educators can make math both meaningful and enjoyable by playing math-related games, by infusing modern technology, and by adopting a hands-on, creative, and computational approach to solving myriad mathematical questions and topics.”
Set up math-related virtual field trips, or bring classes outside the building to consider how math knowledge improves lives. Like a festive holiday feast, try chunking concepts in more manageable morsels to avoid overwhelming (akin to those holiday desserts). Try a beach ball toss with equations written on each section, or bake with your students to learn about fractions! Math puzzles…can also help kinesthetic learners practice their skills.
Classroom Equality
Research shows that gender stereotypes affect how children view the world, and females may not pursue mathematics-related careers due to negative stereotypes. As a consequence, women tend to be underrepresented in math-related career paths. Female role models are empowering, demonstrate that feminine identities are not a liability in mathematics-related fields, and that all women can achieve and succeed across subjects.
Actress Danica McKellar has done a wonderful job identifying this glaring gap, and challenges stereotypes with brilliant books like Math Doesn't Suck, Kiss My Math, and Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape. She has also published a number of outstanding math-related picture books for younger readers. Women are certainly capable in all subjects, including mathematics, and should be encouraged to advance in all career areas, including those that are math-related.
English Language Learners (ELLs) and Special Needs Supports
Supporting ELLs in math merely makes sense. The same techniques that may be effective in language arts and literacy classes, such as showing brief instructional videos, using visual images and realia, crafting a relevant vocabulary word wall, and using non-verbal responses, such as providing a thumbs up or down (close to one’s chest, so classmates may not see), could be used during math lessons. For bilingual students, using the native language (L1) could be a powerful way to establish deeper meaning and leverage learning. Teachers could also use bilingual glossaries, sentence frames, symbols, and technology such as Flip and Padlet to provide choices for students to share knowledge and demonstrate understanding.
Along with assistive communicative devices, the aforementioned supports could also help students with special needs in math classes. Bear in mind that some students with disabilities may suffer from dyscalculia, a disability that results from neurological dysfunction. Suggested supports include drawing, reviewing, avoiding sensory overload, using visual and auditory examples, pre-teaching component skills, and imparting strategies (deeper learning tools) to use when students become frustrated. Props to New Jersey, the Garden State offers a wealth of really great math-related resources for students with disabilities.
Especially now, learning any subject does not have to remain entirely rote and terribly tedious. Infuse educational technology and make the most of our evolving, singular circumstances. Above all, continue to empower all students so they can feel a sense of connection, determination, and purpose.
This article also appears here.
BIO
Scott Freiberger is an attentive administrator and a passionate pedagogue who advocates for ELLs/MLLs and students with special needs. Follow him on Twitter: @scottfreiberger
