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How to Increase Student Engagement with Math Games

Student Engagement with Math Games


A recent buzz phrase in education is student engagement.  And of course there are many different ways we as teachers can engage our students.  Before we discuss how, let’s first define engagement.  

What is engagement? 

In the article How teachers can supercharge student engagement in the classroom,  John Hattie states “too often, engagement is seen in terms of ‘doing’ - are the students doing the work? Are they completing it? Schools are busy places with lots of activities, assignments, and assessments - doing, doing, doing.  But in a lot of ‘doing’ there can be little learning.” 

So then, how do we increase student engagement?

He goes on to say, “instead, we need to think of engagement as being turned onto the challenge of learning.  Like when playing video games, being clear about what success means, providing feedback to move students from where they are to where they need to be, rewarding the attainment of success with even challenging goals, and investing in the love of learning.” 

With that, I think of engagement as what students are doing to learn.  


One way to engage students is to incorporate math games.  And this can be achieved a lot easier than you may think.  


On my search to increase student engagement in my classroom, I ran across the book Boredom Busters by Katie Powell.  In it she shares no prep activities and ideas to include pairing a simple worksheet with games like Connect 4.  


Students are paired up and given a worksheet.  This works best with an assignment that has definite answers and enough problems to last the amount of time you have in mind.  You should also have the answer key available for students to check, which gives them feedback on whether their answer is right.


Student A will complete a problem on the worksheet and check their answer against the answer key.  If the answer’s right, the student takes a turn in Connect 4.  Then Student B does the same.  Play continues until the assignment is completed or the time you have in mind is up.  


Aside from your own observations as students are working, an exit ticket towards the end of class will give you additional feedback on your students’ learning.  


Check out my blog Math Worksheets: How to Change It Up for more suggestions to increase student engagement.


Have you engaged your students with math games? I would love to hear how you’ve done so.  
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