When I was young, school often felt like a place of quiet monotony, where the air seemed to hum with the drone of teachers’ voices and the shuffle of textbooks. The classrooms were filled with rows of desks, each student silently hunched over their work, the occasional cough or pencil scratch punctuating the stillness. Lessons were delivered in a traditional manner, with little room for interaction or excitement. The rigid structure of the curriculum left little space for creativity or exploration, and the hours dragged on in a seemingly endless cycle of lectures and worksheets. In this environment, learning felt more like a chore than an adventure, and the walls of the classroom seemed to close in with each passing day. And, as a result, I hated school!
I vowed never to teach the way I was taught. I wanted to make learning come alive for students. I remember during my second year of teaching, my principal would always walk past my classroom and close the door because we were so noisy. We were having fun. That was 28 years ago, and I still like for my students to have fun with each other. Making sure the fun is conducive to learning is the key. So, it takes a lot of planning to set the stage for students to learn while having fun. One way, I do this is with math board games. Playing math board games in school offers numerous benefits beyond just learning arithmetic skills. Here are five key advantages:
1. Engagement and Motivation: Math board games make learning fun and interactive, which can significantly increase student engagement and motivation. Rather than passive learning, students actively participate in problem-solving and strategizing within a game context, leading to a more enjoyable learning experience.
2. Developing Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: Board games often require players to analyze situations, make decisions, and strategize to achieve goals. In the context of math board games, students must apply mathematical concepts to solve problems and outmaneuver opponents, thereby enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
3. Promoting Collaboration and Social Skills: Many math board games involve multiplayer interactions, fostering collaboration, communication, and social skills among students. Through gameplay, students learn to take turns, cooperate with others, and engage in healthy competition, all of which are essential skills for both academic and social success.
4. Reinforcing Mathematical Concepts and Skills: Math board games provide a practical and hands-on approach to reinforce mathematical concepts taught in the classroom. Whether it’s addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, or geometry, students have the opportunity to apply and practice these concepts in a contextually rich environment, leading to better retention and understanding.
5. Building Confidence and Positive Attitudes Towards Math: Success in math board games can boost students’ confidence in their mathematical abilities. As they experience achievements and overcome challenges during gameplay, students develop a more positive attitude towards math, seeing it as an enjoyable and accessible subject rather than a daunting or boring one. This positive mindset can lead to increased participation, improved performance, and a lifelong appreciation for mathematics.
Overall, incorporating math board games into the classroom can offer a holistic approach to math education, addressing not only academic skills but also social, emotional, and cognitive development. I even use math games to prepare my students for end-of-the-year NWEA MAP testing. Test prep can be mundane, so I developed board games as an innovative solution to revolutionize preparing my students to take NWEA’s MAP assessment. I, particularly, wanted to focus on Operations and Algebraic Thinking especially since the topic lent itself to great discussion among students. This board game is available in three different levels in my TpT Store. 
Operations and Algebraic Thinking Game for RIT Band 211-220
Operations and Algebraic Thinking Game for RIT Band 221-230
Operations and Algebraic Thinking Game for RIT Band 231-240
These dynamic and engaging games are designed specifically to enhance students’ math skills while preparing them for NWEA assessments. With these games, learning becomes an adventure as students delve into mathematical concepts through interactive gameplay. Watch as their enthusiasm for math soars while they strategize, problem-solve, and collaborate with their peers.
