Effective math games also need to:
- Be engaging and able to generate mathematical discussions
- Be flexible in order to cater for a variety of learner needs
- Have mathematics learning or skills at their centre
- Be able to be played at school and at home
Marie Hirst, from The Learner First, came to Wairakei Primary School and shared with teachers the rapid mathematics learning routine called recallNreason. RecallNreason are mathematical games designed to ensure students participate in the dos of our new mathematics curriculum. The dos are:
- Investigating situations
- Representing situations
- Connecting situations
- Generalising finding
- Explaining and justifying findings
Students in different year levels got taught different math games which provided opportunities to action these do’s.
Student and teacher thoughts about the recallNreason experience
We learned a game called Gnarly Numbers. We had to practise adding two digit numbers. I liked the game because it gave you some freedom about what numbers you choose.
The Gnarly Numbers game is a fun way to learn and you might beat your friends too.
I played Multiplication Max. I used 5 x 8 to work out 6 x 8.
When I played 3 in a row I got to make two different numbers 24 or 42. I got to choose which number I wanted to use.
I worked with Hendrix to figure out what the numbers were. He was my buddy.
Me and my buddy won the first game we played and then our partners won the second game. It was a fair game.
It is great to have new ideas for games that can be specifically targeted and differentiated to meet different learning needs. We have already tried some new games with success in Room 8.
By having partners play the game together and verse another pair it was easy to get student mathematical discussion happening as they explained and justified their ideas to each other.
Observing the students as they played the games enabled you to notice areas they needed support such as adding two digit numbers. Tens and ones materials were provided to enable those students who needed support.
The students were enthusiastic about playing the maths games. They are a competitive bunch.
All the materials and resources to play the games are easy to access. I liked that students were taught to draw their own tables rather than rely on photocopies. This also means they can play the games at home.
I enjoyed the professional development because it involved games with learning. When I observed the seniors playing the Multiplication Max game I was able to identify who could add tens confidently and who needed support. You could easily identify a target skill to work on with a group of students.
Teaching our students to win and lose games with grace is vital.
The games were challenging for the students and it was great to see the students enjoying the challenge. Students worked in mixed level groups, they were teaching each other. I found the games easy to modify so that students could work on another skill.
Next Steps
When our students have become confident with a new game in class their next step is to bring it home and teach their Whanau. Don’t worry you will only need cards, dice and/or a pen and paper.
I have been teaching since 2004. I started teaching at Wairakei Primary School in 2011. I am married to Steve and we have two children – Myles and Amelia. Myles and Amelia both enjoyed their primary school years here at Wairakei Primary School. I am really proud to be part of this school and appreciate all the amazing opportunities that are given to our children.
I like working with children and teaching. I love the fun that can be had and the feeling of being a part of a child’s growth and development. My favourite subject is maths. I appreciate the patterns and connections that can be found in numbers and I enjoy problem-solving. I have trained as a Math Specialist Teacher (MST).
My family and I love living in the Taupō area. When I’m not teaching I enjoy spending time with my family, walking my dog and mountain biking - which is a particular family passion.
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