Think about those times when you know a lesson is working. That doesn’t mean every student is having success. As a matter of fact, some are probably struggling. But the teacher in you knows that success is around the corner for all. The energy in the classroom is electric because everyone is engaged and interested in learning.
Those are the moments teachers live for! How can you create a math community that extends the dynamic vibe beyond one lesson? What does it take for all students – especially the ones who struggle – to feel like they can do math?
What is a math community?
When students feel a sense of camaraderie as they come together to learn and engage with mathematics, there’s a strong math community. There’s a sense of support as they share ideas, ask questions, and actively participate in math work and discourse at their independent levels of understanding. You’ll hear discussions. You’ll see collaboration. You’ll notice all students' comfort levels as they learn and develop a deeper conceptual understanding.
It's a supportive environment where everyone contributes to the group's mathematical knowledge – and those contributions are valued and respected by the group. Students feel safe taking academic risks, asking questions, sharing different approaches, and even challenging each other's thinking. There is an understanding of shared goals, not just individual performance.
Why you should create a math community in your classroom
Creating a math community starts with building an overall sense of community in the classroom, essential for creating a supportive and engaging learning environment. When students feel connected and valued, they are more likely to participate actively and collaborate effectively in all subjects—their favorites and not-so-favorites. The magic happens when students and teachers build supportive relationships built on trust and respect.
Those connections matter. Students are more willing to ask questions in math and eager to attempt new math problems when they know someone is there to encourage them and offer feedback to guide them to success. A strong community can lead to increased math engagement, improved communication skills, and a positive attitude toward math.
Improved math confidence
For some students, math anxiety is real. For others, it’s more about feeling skittish to attempt new skills. Then, there’s the group of students who are all-in regarding anything related to math. A positive math community supports all of these students! Investing the time to create a supportive environment where students feel safe to ask questions, share different strategies, and learn from one another benefits the class as a whole. This sets the scene for ultimately building a belief in their mathematical abilities and the process of learning and growth.
Increased engagement
Teachers present information in various ways to allow students to learn through different learning experiences. The goal is to engage students in the process. A math community fosters increased engagement, leading to a deeper understanding of math concepts and a greater motivation to participate actively in class discussions and collaborative problem-solving.
Enhanced collaboration
Math, like any other subject, builds on the basics. A growth mindset is essential. Mistakes are just opportunities to learn and improve. Allow students to share their understanding of different ways to solve problems to demonstrate that there is no single "right" way to approach math.
Explaining their strategies to each other helps them learn from diverse perspectives. Bonus – when they explain their thinking, they refine their critical thinking and reasoning skills. Building communication AND problem-solving skills at the same time is a win!
Strategies to create a math community
Creating a strong math community is a lot like encouraging students to be their best selves. It’s a culture of respect and support for diverse learning styles with an emphasis on developing math skills and conceptual understanding. Let’s look at a few ways to create that kind of environment for your students.
Support growth mindsets
Make sure your students understand that learning isn’t stagnant. It’s about changing and gathering information. It’s a growth mindset that helps students embrace challenges, learn from failure, and seek out new experiences. Provide lots of opportunities for students to try and help them learn from their mistakes. And remember to provide specific feedback to keep them on the right track.
Encourage math discourse
There are times when it’s important for students to talk in class. Math discourse is an important part of the learning process. Encourage students to justify their mathematical thinking and strategies with plenty of opportunities to do so. Structure collaborative learning activities like "think-pair-share" to get them talking and keep them on topic. Open-ended questions are also good ways to start conversations. As with anything, the more practice they get with these discussions, the better they will become at expressing their thoughts.
Integrate real-world problems
Will I ever use this? That’s a common question during math class. Students buy into lessons when they see how the concepts relate to the world around them. Making concepts relevant isn’t that difficult because math is all around us! Take teaching math class beyond basic calculations by offering problems that are authentic to things happening in students' lives. Look for practical applications that connect to the real world. Show them that – yes– they will use this!
Individualize instruction
Teachers provide individualized instruction all day, every day. It becomes second nature. Once they know the best ways to reach each child, they create realistic and specific goals with them. Tying math problems to student interests, like using baseball statistics or measurements for baking, also brings that authentic element to the lesson. Adaptive technology offers a good opportunity to differentiate based on readiness.
Support healthy competition
Students love to have fun while learning. Who can blame them? A little healthy competition and celebration of accomplishments boost confidence and attitudes. Help students set challenging yet achievable goals. Encourage teamwork in class and showcase good work with bulletin boards.
Are you looking for a new twist on math? ExploreLearning is bringing rivalry to class with Reflex Competitions and Frax Competitions. Teachers can host competitions among different classrooms in the same school building while engaging students in learning. Students in one classroom can face off against other classes in a school.
Discover how Reflex and Frax create engaged math communities
Reflex (for math fact fluency) and Frax (for fractions understanding) are much more than fun. They are edtech tools that focus on mission-critical math skills. These game-based resources motivate and reward students as they increase their knowledge and skill levels. Reflex and Frax are rooted in research to provide individualized, adaptive instruction that supports all levels, supporting the growth mindset.
Teacher communities are important, too. Join an online community for Reflex and/or Frax users to share, learn, and grow with other educators - led by a specialist from our ExploreLearning Professional Development Team.
Are you ready to target the critical math concepts of fact fluency and fractions in impactful and engaging ways? Consider your students' needs, and choose a trial that’s right for your class.