Opinion
Education CTQ Collaboratory

Breaking Out of Math-Class Monotony

By Cossondra George — October 23, 2013 3 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Human beings love patterns. Many of us feel a sense of satisfaction and security when we can predict what’s coming next. But it’s definitely possible to have too much of a good thing—especially in math class. (Review homework, lesson, independent work. Repeat. Ugh.)

Here are seven things you can try today to break out of a math rut:

Invite a virtual guest teacher. Discovery Education, LearnZillion, and Khan Academy all offer video clips of teachers addressing a plethora of concepts. Look to these online libraries for alternative ways to present ideas. Students can view these as a whole group—but they can also be valuable for students who are absent, need more reinforcement of their learning, or are on the hunt for new challenges.

Come up with hands-on activities that link directly to concepts. For example, when we are studying proportions, fraction, and scale, I challenge students to create “Mini-Me” drawings of themselves, using scale factors to shrink their own self-image down to a size which will fit on a sheet of copy paper. These activities may not “feel” like assessments but you can certainly use them for that purpose.

Take it 3-D … virtually. Virtual manipulatives, such as those found at the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives, MathPlayGround, or Glencoe, can enhance your lessons and engage students. For example, try using an online Coin Toss to collect probability data, virtual geometric solids to demonstrate new concepts, or widgets that help students with visualizing equivalent fractions.

Use foldables or “cheat sheets” to help students study processes. Many students struggle with processes in math problems. Guide them in creating foldables (a.k.a. educational origami) that contain their instructions to themselves, as well as examples of how to apply the concepts. A quick Pinterest search will turn up many valuable ideas.

Whatever you’re teaching, supersize it. Don’t ask me why, but I’ve seen it again and again: Students respond well to big stuff. Capitalize on this. For example, ask students to create poster displays of words that indicate the operations in algebraic equations. Or posters that spell out conversion facts and rules. Or large graphs to demonstrate students’ knowledge of linear equations, inverse relationships, or even the basics of a Cartesian coordinate system. Creating these helps students learn the information, and you can opt to display the posters in your classroom as reminders.

Get smart about grouping. (This is going to seem awfully basic, but as we get caught up in hectic schedules and negotiate competing priorities, we sometimes neglect the basics.) Take the time to consider the groupings that work best for particular lessons and concepts, rather than relying on a “default.” When is it best to use whole-group instruction, work time with partners or small groups, or independent work? Individual whiteboards can be a great help in mixing independent work with small-group instruction. They make it easy to assess individual progress and then to group and help students who struggle with similar challenges (or need more challenging work).

Crowdsource solutions. I consider my document camera to be the most valuable piece of technology in my math classroom. It lets me demonstrate math concepts for students, but also makes it easy for students to support one another. When students are “stuck,” we can project their work on the board so other students can guide them through the process of error identification and give hints about the next step.

Changing up predictable routines can engage students and inspire them to look forward to your class. Making an effort to mix it up can help you stay alert to the best ways to help students learn (rather than falling into the same old patterns). Keep ‘em guessing!

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
The Future of the Science of Reading
Join us for a discussion on the future of the Science of Reading and how to support every student’s path to literacy.
Content provided by HMH
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
College & Workforce Readiness Webinar
From Classrooms to Careers: How Schools and Districts Can Prepare Students for a Changing Workforce
Real careers start in school. Learn how Alton High built student-centered, job-aligned pathways.
Content provided by TNTP
Student Well-Being Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: The Power of Emotion Regulation to Drive K-12 Academic Performance and Wellbeing
Wish you could handle emotions better? Learn practical strategies with researcher Marc Brackett and host Peter DeWitt.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: July 16, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
5 min read
Education Follow Education Week’s K-12 Coverage on Bluesky
Education Week has joined the social media platform Bluesky.
1 min read
Illustration of Education Week and Bluesky logos.
F. Sheehan/Education Week
Education Quiz Who Qualifies to Receive the First-ever Federal School Voucher? Take the Quiz to Find Out
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Education Quiz Trump’s Surprise Freeze on School Funding—How Much Do You Know?
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read