Ways to Hook Kids with Math →
Here are the first two:
1. Don’t start with the Math. The teachers have discussed how many students shut down if you start with the math. Rather than introducing formulas, vocabulary terms, and numbers, start with problems, puzzles, and situations. Rather than using the problem to practice math – introduce a problem that requires math to solve it.
2. Try to avoid text-only problems. Some students struggle to start a math problem because of difficulties with langauge. Where possible, start with images, videos, manipulates or hands-on introductions to the math. Chunking out the sub-questions or giving them one at a time isn’t really a solution – find ways to get rid of the written language completely. Dan Meyer‘s name has come up many times as the master of this.
