Districts consistently run up against a longstanding obstacle to raising math performance to pre-pandemic levels. To gain math fluency and confidence, students need to engage in practice.
But many students already have math anxiety or aversion. So, for them, math practice ranks up there with pulling teeth. So how can district administrators help schools turn around that attitude?
During my own years as an administrator, I found that one very effective answer to that question is the creation of districtwide traditions and rituals that allow students to experience math as interesting, even fun.
Competitive events and math-related celebrations remove monotony and keep students so engrossed that they forget to feel anxious.
Math competitions that turn practice into sport
Math competitions wrap repeated practice in scoreboards, reward structures (such as points, levels, certificates or tokens), and friendly rivalries that keep students energized.
The options available may surprise many educators. At one end of the scale, they can have students attend in-person challenges such as the Mathematical Association of Americas .
While individual students compete, districts can turn preparation into a community event. The association provides flyers and materials for encouraging enthusiasm for math among the general student population.
At the other end of the scale are online competitions like , an international contest for students ages 4-18. The 48-hour event starts on March 24 in the United States and is free. Students can participate individually, initiate a class challenge or compete as an entire school.
Systems can add their own touches to competition events to increase the element of fun. For example, Regina Christian School, a pre-K12 school in Saskatchewan, Canada, includes a math dress up component where students and their families wear math-related costumes or numbered sports jerseys during World Math Day.
Math-related observances to overcome math apathy
Math-related celebrations teach students that the subject can be a source of enjoyment. Additionally, gamification elements can be integrated into celebratory rituals, so students are honing math skills almost without realizing it.
One of the most famous math-related observances is Pi Day. The day is celebrated on the fourteenth of March, which mirrors the first three digits (3.14) of the mathematical constant.
Educators can create district-wide observances that include practice-oriented challenges. An example would be having students calculate the diameter, radius, circumference, or areas of pizzas or pies. Of course, the students then get to eat the food.
Math Storytelling Day, which falls on Sept. 25, spotlights any storytelling activity that makes math concepts more relatable and entertaining. One fun districtwide initiative could be a short story competition focused on math concepts or math-based puzzles.
Additional observance ideas include screenings of math-themed movies and shows (such as “Numb3rs,” “Hidden Figures” or, for younger students, “CyberChase”) and discussions of math-themed literature.
Fostering a culture of math gamification
Fostering a culture of math gamification throughout the district keeps students interest and enjoyment levels high even outside of observances and external competitions. In my experience, when a districts students have access to gamified activities, it can lead to over a third of those students practicing voluntarily within the first year alone.
Additionally, educators can be more flexible in the ways they implement gamification, accommodating both students who like team activities and students who prefer independent practice.
But creating a gamified culture takes specialized knowledge. For example, each gamified activity should be designed to be completed in a short amount of time, so students do not get frustrated.
Additionally, variety is essential for keeping students engaged, even if its only visuals that change. So, districts may have to provide teachers with training in order to effectively implement the new culture.
If a district has an adaptive learning platform or tools, the technology typically includes features (such as immediate feedback and reward structures) that support gamification. Platforms that include role-playing games are a perfect fit for gamification efforts.
Some adaptive learning platforms also allow users to mix and change activities. Educators can arrange their own districtwide or site-specific competitions as well as ensure that even regular math practice contains gaming elements.
Initiating any type of cultural change is challenging, especially since students and faculty are still recovering from 2020. So, think about what would make the most logistical sense for the district right now. Then create those new traditions, one at a time.
