Math Made Fun: Playful Strategies for Math Education

When it comes to the subject of math, words like "rigid," "defined," and "standardized" often spring to mind. However, the true nature of mathematics can be one of curiosity, wonder, and yes, playfulness! A play-based approach to math offers children the chance to transition from abstract concepts to concrete understanding in a deeply engaging manner. This blog dives into how integrating play into math education fosters a deeper comprehension.

Why play?

From an early age, "play" is an inherently human trait. Research shows, “During play, children’s brains are actively seeking and using skills such as negotiating, improvising, communicating, critical thinking, problem-solving, taking risks, sharing ideas, perspective-taking, creating, and learning from mistakes.” These abilities are fundamental for academic success, and math, in particular, demands solid problem-solving and critical thinking skills. A flexible and curious brain is more adept at strengthening these skills. By adopting a play-based approach to math from the start, children develop increased flexibility and stronger problem-solving abilities, preparing them for the ever-increasing complexities of math as they progress.

Let’s Play!

So, what does a play-based approach to math look like? Math often poses difficulties for children due to its abstract nature. Introducing play into math education bridges the gap between abstract concepts and concrete understanding. This approach enables children to grasp the "why" behind mathematical concepts, rather than relying solely on rote memorization. Here are some inspiring ideas for incorporating play into math education:

Math Manipulatives

An array of math manipulatives are available, from snap cubes and pattern blocks to dice and counting objects. In fact, almost anything can serve as a math manipulative, including Legos, coins, trinkets, and stickers! Think outside the box when it comes to counting, learning math facts, and simple computation skills by using manipulatives!

Food

What’s more fun than food? It not only captures children's interest but also provides a multi-sensory learning experience. Whether it's using apples to introduce fractions or M&M's for counting and ratios, food offers a delightful and engaging way to explore mathematical concepts.

Board Games

Many board games offer opportunities to practice math skills in a playful manner. Monopoly, for instance, enhances money sense and computation skills, while a deck of cards or dice can be utilized for various math concepts. Additionally, numerous board games are now designed explicitly to strengthen math skills in children.

Apps

Digital apps provide another opportunity for a play-based approach to mathematics. Often, children enjoy these games so much that they don't even realize they're doing math! In a previous Peak blog post, numerous apps were highlighted that cultivate confidence in elementary math skills through play and games.

By embracing playfulness, educators and parents can unlock children's inherent curiosity, leading to a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts from an early age. Through manipulatives, food, and games, math transitions from abstract memorization to tangible, interactive learning.

Written by Laine J.

When Motivation is Low: Finding the 'Want' to Persevere

The word motivation is often used to describe one's desire to complete various tasks. Typically, when someone is unmotivated, words such as “lazy” or “apathetic” are used to describe them. However, the National Library of Medicine views motivation as the “process whereby goal‐directed activities are initiated and sustained” (Cook & Artino, 2016). Adding the word “process” to the definition provides more clarity that motivation can be a learned behavior and may look different for each individual. For most people, it’s a lot easier to get motivated to do something you enjoy. So, how can you increase the sustainability of task completion when motivation is low?

Checklists

Most school homework assignments and projects require multiple steps for full completion. It can be overwhelming, especially for younger students, to focus their attention for an extended period without knowing the smaller steps required to complete the task in its entirety. By helping your child create a checklist and outlining the specific steps needed to complete each task, they will see the big picture while also understanding how much attention they will need to complete each individual step. It may be helpful to include a range of tasks (i.e. personal, educational, chore-based) with varying amounts of effort required to complete them. Often, the tasks seem more manageable and less scary when they are broken down into steps.

Must Do/May Do list

Tasks can be broken down into Must Do and May Do lists for your child to complete based on what absolutely must be completed in a particular day and what can wait. Oftentimes providing choices for the May Do’s will support your child’s task initiation. Your child might be motivated with the agreement that they can choose what they will work on next. Must Do/May Do lists can include a variety of topics - from household chores to homework to after school activities - based on your family’s schedule.

Reinforcement

Reinforcement, from oneself or others, can be a powerful tool to increase productivity levels. Rewards can be used in different capacities based on your child’s desire to complete specific tasks or assignments. For example, if they REALLY do not want to complete a task, you may choose a reward system that emphasizes positive reinforcement after each smaller step complete is completed. For example, if they are completing a homework assignment with ten questions, you could give them the option to earn a minute of free time for each question they complete. This will reward them more frequently to encourage them to persevere. They may also choose to be rewarded after a larger task is completed, like an entire assignment or chore, for a larger reward. 

Environmental Factors

Sometimes low motivation is developed based on environmental factors and distractions. You can try to enhance your child’s motivation by having them work in a clean space, using noise canceling headphones, utilizing comfortable seating, or selecting a new workspace. If they seem to be unmotivated, encourage them to change their scenery, limit distractions, or remove unnecessary clutter.

Low motivation can develop for several reasons: long tasks, disinterest in the topic or activity, previous experiences, lack of self-confidence, environmental factors, desire to be doing something else, and many others. Most tasks have a deadline which can cause even more pressure to get the task done. There are many ways to increase motivation to persevere during these difficult internal struggles. If motivation is something your child struggles with, have them try journaling and reflecting on the root cause and suggest new ways of persevering until they find something that works for them!

Written by Ami Z.

Avoiding the End-of-the-Year Burnout

It’s May, the final month of the school year! This is the time when you really have to pull out all of your parenting superpowers to help your kids finish the school year strong. Putting in a little extra effort to set the stage for success during these final weeks can make all the difference.

Healthy Habits

The end of the school year often feels extremely busy. Teachers work to fit in their final learning objectives and organizations put on special events to showcase students’ accomplishments from the year. Because extra stress can bubble up as the school year winds down, maintaining healthy habits is a must! Encouraging your kids to focus on their three M’s (meals, movement and meditation) is so beneficial. Packing extra special lunches for the final weeks of school can provide a midday pick-me-up and bring kids joy. Just as important is the need for kids to get some energy out after school. For those who do not have sports or other physical activities built into their schedule, you can suggest that your kids choose to go on a walk with a friend, play with the family pet in the yard or go on a bike ride. Beginning and ending each day with a mindful minute is a simple yet powerful practice to reduce stress and calm the body down.

Built-In homework Breaks

If your nightly habits have fallen off, it’s not too late to get back on track. Assisting your student to create a daily homework checklist with both assignments and tasks to complete for upcoming projects and tests provides a concrete to-do list. Colored pens and highlighters can be used to prioritize or emphasize tasks. While some older students can create and monitor their to-do list independently, younger children often do best with support. Setting a kitchen timer with a goal work time (which varies greatly based on age and attention span) to earn a 5-minute break can help keep the worker motivated. Younger students do well with visual timers. You can mark the clock with a fun sticker to indicate when it is time for a break. Strategies to lighten the mood and make homework time more productive during the final weeks of school are great!

sprinkles of Encouragement

Have you started to feel more like a homework drill sergeant than your children’s supporter? If so, they could be feeling extra stress and pressure. Focusing on the positives and providing small accolades for hard work can be really powerful when students feel burnt out. You can leave handwritten post-it notes in workspaces, select fitting inspirational magnets for the refrigerator each day, or slide cute little greeting cards into your kids’ backpacks each Monday to encourage them to keep working hard. When they feel your support, they might be more likely to push through to the end of the year.

Daily Motivators

If intrinsic motivation is low at the end of the school year, small daily rewards can help kids make it through the last weeks of school. The rewards should be goal-focused but also personalized to bring your kids joy. Some ideas include: choosing a special dinner, watching a favorite TV show as a family, getting a free pass from chores for the night, earning extra screen time, and going out for frozen yogurt. For younger students, it is fun to create a deck of reward cards together at the beginning of each week and let them pull a random card each evening as they earn one. A little extra motivation can go a long way.

Written by Krista G.