Are your classroom math games becoming a bit of a chaotic mess? Do some students take advantage of game time while others struggle to keep up? If you answered yes to either of these questions, don’t fret! There are some simple solutions that can help you maintain order in the classroom and ensure that all students are having fun during math game time. Let’s explore a few tips for managing student behavior and keeping things organized during your next math game session.
Organize Your Space for Math Games
You don’t have to have fancy desks or tables in order for a successful math game session. But it does help to ensure that there is enough space for each student so they can easily move around without bumping into one another or getting distracted by what their classmates are doing. For example, if you’re playing a board game with dice, make sure everyone has enough room to roll their dice without having them land on someone else’s piece.
This also applies if you use manipulatives such as counting chips or cards; make sure each student has easy access to their materials so they can quickly grab them when it’s their turn. If you are using desks, it helps to have them arranged in pairs or groups so that there is plenty of table top space for playing math games.
Organize Your Supplies & Materials for Math Games
It can be overwhelming trying to manage multiple math games at once if your supplies are scattered about the room. To avoid this problem, create an organized system for storing and labeling your supplies before each session begins. For example, use plastic containers or drawers labeled with different types of games. I like to group mine by skill.
This will save time when setting up activities because everything will be easy to find and ready to go when needed! It also helps to have a few empty containers that you can fill with the directions and supplies needed for math games that will be a part of your lesson. This way students can grab a container and go without wasting time gathering supplies from around the room.
Set Clear Rules & Expectations for Math Games
Before you start playing any games, it’s important to set clear expectations for your students. Establish ground rules that everyone must follow, such as no talking out of turn, no pushing or shoving, and no making fun of other players. Be sure to explain why each rule is important and what will happen if the rules aren’t followed. Establishing these guidelines will help keep everyone on track during the game. The good news is that I have a free set of posters with math game expectations you can download and use today!
Have an End Goal
Lastly, it’s important to have an end goal in mind when running math games in the classroom. This could be anything from mastering a particular skill or concept to simply having fun with your students. Let students know what the goal is before the game starts and end game time with a short class discussion where students can share their learning outcomes in their own words. This is also great formative assessment information for you! Having an end goal will help keep your students motivated throughout the activity and ensure that everyone stays on task until the end of the game.
A class favorite game for my students is Pickle. Students find themselves stuck in a pickle as they roll dice and have to decide the best place to put the rolled number as they practice either partial product multiplication or partial quotient division.
Math games can be lots of fun for both teachers and students if they are managed properly! By taking some extra time to organize materials beforehand, setting expectations for appropriate behavior during gameplay, and having an end goal in mind, you can ensure that your math games are always successful and enjoyable for all involved! With these tips at your disposal, you’ll be able to make math games exciting for your students while still maintaining order in the classroom!