While summer is a time for fun and relaxation, it’s also when students are most at risk of forgetting what they’ve learned. Research shows that between 70% and 78% of elementary students experience declining math skills over the summer.
Known as the “summer slide,” this learning loss can set students back months, especially in subjects like math. But here’s the good news: keeping math skills sharp over the summer doesn’t have to feel like schoolwork.

Why Summer Math Practice Is So Important

Math is a subject that builds over time. Math skills like multiplication, fractions, and problem-solving are the foundation for future success in school and life. When students take a two-month break from practice, they often return to school needing review instead of preparing for new challenges.

Tutoring for math skills during the summer helps children:

• Retain key math concepts
• Build confidence in their abilities
• Stay ready for back-to-school success

5 Surprising (and Fun!) Ways to Do Math This Summer

1. Math Skills in the Kitchen

Cooking involves measurement, fractions, multiplication, and even division. Ask your child to double or halve a recipe and see how they can manage to do it. They might need a little helping hand, but this is real-world math in action!

2. Take Math on the Road

Math is everywhere, whether it’s a road trip or a walk to the park. During a trip this summer as a family, you can get your kids involved in math by asking them to estimate distances, eg, how far do you think it is from the car to the front door, calculate travel time, or count license plate numbers from different places.

3. Math and Money

Give your child a small allowance or let them “budget” for a summer treat. It is excellent practice to take your child to the grocery store, local ice cream shop, or any local business and have them compare prices, add totals, and calculate change. If they don’t have enough money saved for what they want, have them add up how much more they will need. 

4. Play Math Skill Games

Board and card games build strong math skills. Try playing Monopoly, Uno, and Yahtzee as a family, as they help to build number sense and strategic thinking without feeling like homework. They help children build math skills without them knowing that it’s happening, plus the whole family gets to have fun away from the screens!

Summer learning starts here! Get insights on how to keep skills sharp all summer long.

5. Enrol at a Tutoring Centre

Summer tutoring programs help students fill learning gaps, get ahead, or stay on track in a low-stress, one-on-one setting. With personalized support and flexible scheduling, tutoring ensures that students stay mentally active without overwhelming their summer plans. It’s the perfect balance of learning and fun, and a smart way to build math skills before back-to-school season. Find more information on our math program here.

What Parents Can Do: Make Math Skills Part of Everyday Life

You don’t need a teaching degree to support your child’s math growth. The key is to make math meaningful by integrating it into your everyday routine. Praise effort, not just results, and encourage a positive mindset. Struggling with math doesn’t mean a student isn’t “a math person” but needs more practice and support.

A Summer Math Routine That Works

Even 15–20 minutes a day can make a big difference. Keep it light, consistent, and encouraging. 

Mix it up with:

• Workbooks or printable worksheets
• Online math games
• Real-world activities (like shopping or gardening)

Don’t Let Math Skills Take a Vacation

Summer is short, but the math skills your child builds today can last a lifetime. With the right approach, summer learning can be fun, engaging, and incredibly rewarding.

Looking for a summer math boost?

We offer customized math tutoring for students of all ages. From review to enrichment, our expert tutors make learning math fun and effective, even in the summer sun.

Book your free consultation today and make this a summer of learning!

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The post Summer Math Matters: How to Keep Kids’ Math Skills Sharp All Season Long appeared first on Oxford Learning.

Why Math Feels Hard—And Why It Doesn’t Have to Be

It’s hard to build math confidence because math anxiety is real. It can stem from early struggles, a fast-paced classroom environment, or the belief that you’re either “a math person” or not. But here’s the truth: math is a skill that can be learned like any other. Just like reading or riding a bike, it takes practice, patience, and confidence.

Building Math Confidence Starts Early

Confidence in math begins with small wins. When students start to see that they can solve problems, they start to believe in themselves. Here are a few ways to build early math confidence:

• Celebrate Effort Over Perfection: Praise the process, not just the right answer.
• Make Math Part of Daily Life: Grocery shopping, cooking, budgeting—math is everywhere!
• Play Math Games: Board games, card games, and even apps can help make math fun.
  

Common Math Roadblocks—and How to Overcome Them

Whether it’s fractions, word problems, or algebra, certain math topics trip up many students. That’s okay! These hurdles are part of the learning journey. Tutoring offers personalized support to break down tricky topics into manageable steps. With one-on-one attention, students can revisit key concepts, learn at their own pace, and ask questions without fear.

The Power of Tutoring in Math Success

Tutoring provides a safe space for students to catch up, keep up, or get ahead. Math tutors don’t just teach—they build trust, reduce anxiety, and help students develop a growth mindset. At Oxford Learning, we tailor each session to the student’s unique needs, using strategies that match how they learn best.

When students gain math confidence, their entire academic outlook changes. Grades improve, participation increases, and they stop saying, “I’m just not good at math.”

Conquer Math Doubts and Build Math Confidence

Math doesn’t have to be a struggle. Any student can become a math whiz with encouragement, practice, and the right support system. Whether your child is falling behind, needs homework help, or wants to tackle advanced challenges, we’re here to help make math something to look forward to.

Ready to help your child have more math confidence? Contact us today to book a free assessment and find the right math program for your child’s needs.

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The post How to Help Your Child Build Math Confidence appeared first on Oxford Learning.

Math Isn’t About Talent—It’s About Training Your Brain

Research in neuroscience shows that the brain is capable of changing and growing with effort—a concept known as neuroplasticity. When students practise math, they strengthen the neural pathways that help them understand numbers and problem-solving techniques. Just like learning a language or playing an instrument, math is a skill that improves with consistent practice.

A Stanford University study found that students who believe they can improve their math skills through effort perform better than those who think their ability is fixed. This means that the biggest factor in math success is not talent but mindset.

Why Students Struggle with Math

Many students who struggle with math don’t lack ability—they are held back by math anxiety. Studies show that math anxiety triggers the same areas of the brain associated with physical pain, making it harder to focus and process information. This can lead to a cycle where students avoid math, fall behind, and reinforce the belief that they are simply “not a math person.“

Breaking the Cycle with the Right Approach

Improving math skills is possible for everyone. Tutoring is one of the most effective ways to help students gain confidence and skills. 

A personalized approach to math support helps students:

• Reduce math anxiety through guided practice in a stress-free environment
• Build problem-solving skills with step-by-step instruction
• Develop confidence by mastering foundational skills before moving on to complex concepts
• Learn at their own pace with individualized strategies

Tutoring for Math Success

Tutoring provides students with the tools they need to overcome the belief that they aren’t “math people.” With expert guidance, students learn how to approach math differently, turning challenges into opportunities for growth. Regular tutoring sessions can help reinforce classroom learning, fill knowledge gaps, and encourage a growth mindset.

The Role of Tutoring in Building a Strong Math Brain

No one is born good or bad at math. The idea of a “math brain” is a myth that prevents students from realizing their full potential. With the right strategies, practice, and support, anyone can become confident in math. If your child is struggling with math, a tutor can provide the guidance they need to improve their skills and build a positive mindset toward learning.

At Oxford Learning, we believe every student can succeed in math with the right support. 

Contact us today to learn how we can help your child develop the confidence and skills needed for math success.

Give your child the confidence to succeed in math. Find a location near you today!

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Math is often seen as a subject that students either love or dread. Many students struggle with math not because they lack ability but because they perceive it as difficult, abstract, or unrelated to their daily lives. However, helping students love math is possible with the right approach. Here are some strategies to help students develop a positive relationship with math.

9 Strategies to Help Students Love Math

1. Make Math Relevant to Everyday Life

Students are more likely to enjoy math when they see its practical applications. As a parent, you can integrate math into daily activities, such as:

• Measuring ingredients while cooking
• Comparing prices while shopping
• Calculating time and distance on a road trip
• Managing a small budget or allowance

By connecting math to real-world experiences, students can see its value beyond the classroom.

2. Encourage a Growth Mindset

A fixed mindset can make students believe they are simply “bad at math.” Encouraging a growth mindset helps them understand that ability improves with effort and practice. Praise persistence over perfection and remind students that mistakes are a natural part of learning.

3. Use Games and Interactive Tools

Gamifying math can make learning more engaging and help students fall in love with math. Math-related games, puzzles, and apps provide hands-on experiences that reinforce skills in a fun way.

Popular options include:

• Sudoku and logic puzzles
• Card games like Uno or 24 Game
• Online platforms such as Prodigy, Khan Academy, or Math Playground

4. Personalize Learning Approaches

Not all students learn the same way. Some may benefit from visual aids, while others prefer hands-on activities. 

Consider different approaches, such as:

• Visual learners need graphs, charts, and colour-coded equations
• Auditory learners need someone to explain concepts aloud or use songs to memorize formulas
• Kinesthetic learners need to incorporate physical activities like building models or using manipulatives

5. Provide Positive Role Models

Many students associate math with difficulty rather than success. Highlighting role models—such as scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs who use math in exciting ways—can help shift their perspective. Additionally, parents who display a positive attitude toward math set a strong example. If you show that you love math, it could help your child love math, too!

6. Break Down Complex Problems

Large math problems can feel overwhelming for many students. Take some time to teach your children how to tackle math step by step:

1. Identify what the problem is asking
2. Break it into smaller, manageable steps
3. Solve one part at a time
4. Review work

By simplifying the process, students can build confidence and reduce frustration.

7. Turn Struggles into Learning Opportunities

When students struggle with math, it’s important to address their concerns with patience and support. Instead of seeing mistakes as failures, treat them as opportunities to learn and grow. Encouraging resilience can help students develop a positive attitude toward challenges.

8. Foster Collaborative Learning

Group activities and peer tutoring can make math more engaging. Working together allows students to explain concepts in their own words, reinforce their understanding, and learn from different perspectives.

9. Celebrate Progress and Small Wins

Acknowledging small achievements can help build confidence. Whether it’s mastering multiplication tables, improving test scores, or successfully solving a tough problem, celebrating progress keeps motivation high.

Oxford Learning Can Help Students Love Math

Helping students develop a love for math requires patience, creativity, and encouragement. By making math relevant, engaging, and accessible, parents can help their children build confidence and enjoy the learning process. 

With the right strategies, every student has the potential to succeed in math and appreciate its importance in everyday life. If your child is struggling with math, we can help! 

Find a Location near you to see how we can help your student love math.

The post 9 Strategies to Help Students Love Math appeared first on Oxford Learning.

However, the process of becoming math literate is less commonly understood, though it’s just as important to students’ success in school and beyond. So, what does math literacy really mean?

What is Math Literacy?

Math literacy, or numeracy, is the ability to problem-solve, reason, and analyze using numbers. It goes beyond basic arithmetic and is essential for applying math in real-world situations. Math literacy enables students to understand math terminology (such as knowing that “sum” means addition and “difference” means subtraction) and decode what a question is actually asking.

Mastering math literacy means students can use numbers effectively, understand patterns, and apply logical reasoning to solve everyday problems.

When Do Students Become Math Literate?

Students reach math literacy after they’ve mastered fundamental math skills such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Mastery of fractions by the end of Grade 5 is also crucial; without it, students will likely struggle with more complex math concepts in high school and beyond.

Math literacy isn’t an instant achievement—it requires years of understanding and applying math concepts. Interestingly, the brain’s ability to comprehend abstract logic fully matures during adolescence, which is often why high school becomes the real testing ground for math skills. Students who are solid in the basics can move more seamlessly into advanced math.

Common Challenges in Developing Math Literacy

Math literacy often comes with its own set of hurdles. Many students struggle to recognize patterns and apply learned skills in new situations. Word problems are a common stumbling block, as students may struggle to interpret the question and identify the steps needed to reach a solution.

Abstract thinking is also an essential skill in math, yet it doesn’t come naturally to everyone. This is why extra support and encouragement are key for students who find math challenging. Extra tutoring support can help students overcome any math problems that they may be facing. Learn more about math tutoring here.

When Can a Student Consider Themselves Math Literate?

There is no specific age at which students achieve math literacy. They achieve it when they can confidently use math concepts, recognize patterns, and transfer skills to solve problems. Math literacy is more than just completing assignments—it’s a way of thinking and solving problems in everyday situations.

Tips for Improving Math Literacy Skills

It’s never too late to improve math literacy! Here are some effective ways to strengthen these essential skills:

• Revisit basic concepts.
  • Understanding core mathematics, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions, lays a solid foundation for tackling complex math skills.
• Fill math learning gaps early.
  • The sooner students identify and address gaps, the greater the likelihood of becoming math literate.
• Relate math to real life.
  • Math is everywhere, from cooking to home improvement to driving. Showing students how math applies to daily life makes it more relevant and engaging.
• Boost confidence and motivation. 
  • Positive experiences with math, such as small successes, can significantly impact a student’s confidence. Confidence, in turn, motivates them to tackle more complex problems.
• Provide real-world examples.
  • When students ask, “When will I ever use this?” real-world examples—from art to computer science—can demonstrate the value of math in everyday life.

6 Fun Ways to Make Math Engaging at Home

If you’re looking to make math more enjoyable for kids, here are six fun ideas:

1. Use math in cooking; measuring ingredients helps with fractions and multiplication.
2. Play board games with math elements. Games like Monopoly or Yahtzee encourage counting, strategy, and probability.
3. Tracking fitness goals can help kids set and measure their personal bests for physical activities.
4. Design a home project that encourages kids to calculate paint or flooring needs for a room—it’s a real-life application of area measurement.
5. Solve puzzles and brain teasers together; this helps build critical thinking.
6. Explore math in nature, looking for patterns in leaves, shapes of rocks, and weather patterns, all using math concepts.

Developing math literacy is a journey that requires practice, patience, and positivity. By understanding and embracing the “language of math,” students not only improve academically but also gain vital skills for navigating the world around them.

Need Help Building Math Skills? 

Oxford Learning can support your child on the path to math literacy! Our programs are designed to boost confidence and understanding, making math accessible and enjoyable. 

Find an Oxford Learning location near you to get started today!

Find a Location

originally published in 2010. Edited and updated in 2024.

The post What Does Math Literacy Mean? appeared first on Oxford Learning.

For some students, doing math can cause negative emotions like fear of failure. This harms their ability to perform.

This is known as “math anxiety.”

Effects of Math Anxiety in Elementary and Secondary School Students

Math anxiety impacts students as early as the first grade by affecting their working memory. Working memory is like a ‘mental scratchpad’. It is important when we need to keep track of numbers. However, this working memory can be disrupted by math anxiety in both elementary and secondary school students. This can lead students with math anxiety to be as much as half a school year behind their peers in math. Even for students who don’t struggle with math anxiety, it’s important to develop positive study habits that will help them as math becomes more complex.

What Causes Math Anxiety?

Major causes of math anxiety include:

• • The pressure caused by time limits on tests

The deadlines that timed tests impose on students lead them to feel anxious. This leads them to forget concepts that they have no problem remembering at home. Since tests can have a negative impact on grades, students’ fear of failure is confirmed. This creates a vicious circle that can be difficult to break.

• • The fear of public embarrassment

Math anxiety has also been linked to negative emotions from the past. If a student has been scolded for getting an answer wrong, it can make his or her anxiety worse. The same is true if he or she has been embarrassed in front of others.

• • Influence of teachers

Students can also pick up on their teacher’s feelings about math. If a teacher is excited and positive about math, the students will be as well. However, it can have the opposite effect if educators are negative about it.

Symptoms of Math Anxiety

If your child seems to be struggling with their math grades, look for the following symptoms of math anxiety:

1. Unusual nervousness when doing or thinking about math

Even thinking about math is enough to cause stress to the student.

2. Passive behaviour

Students are either too afraid of failure or simply thinking about math, which brings so many negative emotions that they are unwilling to even try.

3. A feeling of being alone

They feel that they are the only ones incapable of finding the solutions, even if the math is extremely complicated.

4. A feeling of permanency

The student begins to believe that he or she is naturally bad at math and always will be, so he or she gives up trying to improve.

5. Lack of confidence

Students expect never to know the answers to math questions, so they depend on other people to do math for them. Example: expecting parents to help with homework.

6. Panic during tests or when called on to answer questions

The classroom becomes a major source of stress for students, especially when they are taking a test or expected to contribute in class.

How to Prevent Math Anxiety

If your child struggles with these challenges, you’ve probably found yourself wondering how to handle math anxiety. It can affect any student, and the best way to prevent it is to build positive study habits.

Check out these math anxiety strategies to find out how to improve your child’s performance in the classroom.

4 Math Anxiety Tips:

1. Positive Reinforcement

Students coping with math anxiety need to feel that they can excel at math.

Review homework with your child and point out all the questions they got right. Put an emphasis on correct answers rather than mistakes. If possible, surround the student with positive teachers and students.

2. Get a Tutor

Teachers can greatly impact a student’s feelings toward math. Even if the teacher is enthusiastic about math, supplement teaching with a qualified tutor. Tutors can provide personal attention that is hard to get at school. They can help students work through their problems in a low-pressure environment. Tutoring can also improve students’ self-confidence.

3. Reframe Anxiety

Reframing anxiety can improve mathematics performance. Have a student write down their worries about math before doing it. By having to think critically, students can realize their fears are unfounded.

Young children can draw pictures as a substitute for writing. Assist reframing by having students see tests and assignments as challenges instead of threats.

4. Make Math Fun!

Try to create positive emotions by making math fun. One way to do this is to connect math to the child’s interests. For example, if the student likes sports, use sport-related word problems.

For more tips on how to boost math confidence, check out our video below.

Struggling With Math?

If you know a student who struggles with math anxiety, Oxford Learning can help. View our math tutoring page for more details, and find an Oxford Learning location near you!

Note: Originally published 2017. Edited and updated 2024

The post What is Math Anxiety? appeared first on Oxford Learning.

But love it or hate it, understanding it is a key part of not only school but also of life.

In life, students may never again need to calculate the circumference of a circle; however, basic math skills such as multiplication, division, and percentages are needed skills throughout life.

Perceptions Matter

Whether students perceive the subject to be easy or difficult influences their performance. Not surprisingly, parents’ perceptions strongly influence their child’s performance. A series of studies show that parent influence has the biggest impact on student attitudes, surpassing even teacher influence.

Basically, when students have a positive attitude about math at home, it translates to a positive attitude in school. This, in turn, impacts math performance.

So how can students and parents adopt a positive subject attitude and work toward making it enjoyable? Check out these tips to change perceptions and build better math skills.

Tips to Make Math Fun

1. Don’t Give Up. Adopting a growth mindset is key to understanding that not everything comes easily and that working at something can bring rewards.
2. Don’t Miss Class. Math is cumulative (concepts build upon one another), so missing one class can mean falling behind.
3. Work With Friends. Friends can offer different ideas and approaches to solving complex problems, explain concepts differently, and share notes and strategies.
4. Ask Questions. Speak up when a concept is not understood.
5. Seek Solutions Online. Practise challenging problems online or with an app.
6. Review Work. Analyze and understand mistakes to avoid repeating them.
7. Build Basics. Keep working on the basic skills of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These skills are the foundation, and feeling confident in these skills will translate into confidence in other skills.
8. Play. Board games or apps can make learning more interactive than a textbook.
9. Get Help. Seeking extra help at the first sign of struggle is key.

Math Tutoring at Oxford Learning

Reading is the foundation of all learning, including in math. When reading skills are weak, it can influence student math performance. At Oxford Learning, our custom programs help student build stronger basic skills while also building reading comprehension. Understanding what a question is asking is the first step to finding the solution. Get better math grades with help from Oxford Learning.

Find a location and enrol today!

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From simple arithmetic to tackling calculus challenges, math equips students with invaluable skills for their everyday experiences. Yet, it’s no secret that many students find math to cause stress, boredom, and irritation. The notion of rekindling the fun in math may appear overwhelming, but it’s entirely achievable with the right approach.

Here are a few tactics that can be used to make math fun and engaging for students of all ages.

How to Make Math Fun Again

1. Incorporate games and puzzles
2. Use real life examples
3. Make use of technology
4. Encourage group work
5. Use humour

1. Incorporate Games and Puzzles

Incorporating games and puzzles into the learning process can be a fantastic way to rekindle the joy of mathematics. Activities like Sudoku, math bingo, and math-themed board games offer an enjoyable experience and practical tools for honing math skills. 

These games introduce a fresh dimension to learning, allowing students to engage with mathematical concepts playfully. They can be integrated into the curriculum as rewards for completing assignments or as a lively kick-off to a lesson, making math a delightful adventure for students.

2. Use Real Life Examples

Math can seem abstract and irrelevant to students when they cannot see how it relates to their daily lives. You can make math more relevant by incorporating real-life examples into their homework. 

For instance, when helping with fractions, you could use pizza or a cake to show how to divide it into equal parts. This approach allows your child to understand that math is an essential tool in their daily lives.

3. Make Use of Technology

Technology has revolutionized the way we learn and teach. There are many math-related apps and websites that can transform the learning experience, making it more interactive and captivating for students. Math-related apps such as Dragonbox Math Apps and MentalUP can make math more fun and engaging.

These apps and websites allow students to delve into math in a dynamic and personalized way, making the subject informative and genuinely engaging.

4. Encourage Group Work

Group work is a great strategy to infuse fun and enjoyment into math while fostering a collaborative learning environment. Students collaborating in groups can exchange ideas and join forces to tackle mathematical challenges. As a parent, you can assign group projects or problem-solving activities that necessitate teamwork, encouraging students to pool their strengths and knowledge to arrive at solutions.

This approach enhances mathematical comprehension and nurtures essential life skills such as teamwork and effective communication. By working together, students can learn from one another’s perspectives and practices, making the math learning journey more enjoyable and enriching.

5. Use Humour

Humour can be a powerful tool to inject enjoyment into math education. You can use jokes, humorous videos, and memes to break the monotony of lessons and create a more relaxed and enjoyable learning atmosphere. It’s crucial, of course, to strike a balance between humour and the seriousness of the subject matter to ensure that learning objectives are met.

Try incorporating various strategies like games, puzzles, real-life examples, technology, and group work. Humour can collectively make math a subject and an experience that students look forward to. This approach can help cultivate students’ interest in math, boost their engagement, and ultimately improve performance. Creating an interactive and fun learning environment is key to fostering a positive attitude toward math.

Need Help with Building Stronger Math Skills?  

At Oxford Learning, we can help students stay motivated while building stronger math skills. Let’s make math fun again together. Learn more about our math programs near you.

Contact a location to get started today!

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Math isn’t just for the classroom! Mathematics is an important part of everyday life, used in areas such as cooking, planning, shopping, driving, etc. Without it, how would teens learn how much they need to save for school or how much they need to upgrade their phone?

Math Can Be Challenging

Math is often thought of as the most challenging school subject. For many students, understanding math does not happen intuitively or automatically, it requires plenty of effort and practice to understand math concepts. Math requires patience and persistence—skills that many students are not great at.

Strengthen Math Skills This Summer

There are plenty of ways for children to keep their math skills active and avoid the summer brain drain. Studies have found that:

• Students can learn new facts from daily math sessions of just 5 minutes per day to maintain math skills.
• Setting aside time to complete 3-4 math problems at any level per day during the summer can stop math skills loss.
• Playing math-based board games regularly can result in a significant improvement in children’s math skills.
• Downloading math apps and using them regularly can increase student engagement and reduce the math achievement gap. Check out some of these recommended math apps.

How Summer Programs Can Help

Whether your child has a great math performance or needs some help in the subject, working on math skills this summer programs can help. Math summer programs allow your child to explore complex mathematical concepts in a fun and interactive way. Summer math tutors help students succeed in two main ways:

1. Build Math Confidence. One of the biggest obstacles that students face when struggling in math is their confidence. When students work on building math confidence, they’re less afraid to make mistakes. They’re also more likely to challenge themselves to handle more difficult math problems. As a result, the student’s math skills and confidence increase.
2. Practice and Preparation. Math curriculum moves quickly. When students miss a math concept, they can easily fall behind. By working on key concepts and practising until mastery, students catch on to missed concepts, build math confidence, and even get ahead of the curve with an early introduction to next year’s math skills.

Get A Head Start This Summer!

It’s tough to tap into math motivation; that’s why fun and exciting summer programs that are customized to each child’s learning needs are necessary! Not just to catch up and get ahead in math concepts but to rediscover their joy for learning…this summer and all year long! Contact a location near you to enrol today!

The post Build Summer Math Skills for Better Grades Next Year appeared first on Oxford Learning.

From basic calculations to complex problem-solving, math is a crucial tool that helps students in their daily lives. However, for many students, math can be a source of anxiety, boredom, and frustration. The idea of making math fun again may seem like a daunting task, but it is possible with the right approach.

Here are some strategies that you can employ to make math enjoyable and engaging for students of all ages.

How to Make Math Fun Again

1. Incorporate games and puzzles
2. Use real-life examples
3. Make use of technology
4. Encourage group work
5. Use humour

1. Incorporate Games and Puzzles

Games and puzzles are excellent ways to engage students and make math fun again. Games such as Sudoku, math bingo, and math-related board games can help students practice their math skills while having fun. These games provide a different way of learning and can be used as a reward for completing assignments or as a fun way to start a lesson.

2. Use Real-Life Examples

Math can seem abstract and irrelevant to students when they cannot see how it relates to their daily lives. Teachers can make math more relevant by incorporating real-life examples into their lessons. For instance, when teaching fractions, a teacher could use pizza or a cake to show how to divide it into equal parts. This approach helps students understand that math is an essential tool in their daily lives.

3. Make Use of Technology

Technology has revolutionized the way we learn and teach. Several math-related apps and websites can make math more interactive and engaging for students. For example, Mathletics is a website that offers students math challenges and activities tailored to their abilities. Math-related apps such as Dragonbox Math Apps and MentalUP can make math more fun and engaging.

4. Encourage Group Work

Group work can make math fun again and enjoyable for students. Students who work in groups can share ideas and collaborate to solve problems. Teachers can assign group projects or problem-solving activities that require students to work together to find a solution. This approach helps students develop teamwork skills and improves their communication skills.

5. Use Humour

Humour can be an effective tool to make math more enjoyable. Teachers can use jokes, funny videos, and memes to break the monotony of the lesson and create a relaxed learning environment. However, it is essential to strike a balance between humour and the seriousness of the subject matter.

Math can be enjoyable and engaging by incorporating games and puzzles, using real-life examples, using technology, encouraging group work, and using humour. Making math fun again makes students more likely to develop an interest in the subject and perform better. Teachers should create a learning environment that is fun, interactive, and engaging to help students develop a positive attitude toward math.

Need Help with Making Math Fun Again?  

At Oxford Learning, we can help students stay motivated while building stronger math skills. Learn more about our math programs near you and keep math learning going strong all year long.

Contact a location to get started today!

The post 5 Ways to Make Math Into a Fun Experience for Students appeared first on Oxford Learning.