Schools are under
pressure to lift educational performance and graduation rates for all students,
meaning every student needs to have access to the resources and educational
rigor they need — particularly as many students continue to struggle at the
elementary and early secondary grade level in mathematics. Striving learners
need to be supported with equitable instruction that provides enrichment,
remediation, and intensive intervention.
Most schools employ
multi-level systems of support to afford the differentiated mathematics
instruction required to address the diversity of skills in numeracy for all
students entering the class. Math curricula must incorporate strong
evidence-based, supplemental intervention curriculum programs so each student
is well prepared for success in secondary math.
Containing a
variety of multi-modal resources, a supplemental math intervention program can
be implemented with any core instruction model and should accommodate various
learning and expression styles to support the needs of a diverse student
population. The best programs align to regular instructional models and enable
teacher-led, independent learning. The game-based and interactive approaches to
math instruction engage learners and provide educators with easy-to-implement
tools to ensure equitable access to mathematical concepts and application.
According
to Fadhilaturrahmi, the most effective
learning environments combine verbal and non-verbal representations of knowledge
and use a combination of visual and auditory inputs. Thus, we endorses the
inclusion of visual and graphic depictions of problems as one of several key
strategies to support struggling learners. Accompanying these different
modalities, it is important that educators also provide students with
opportunities for interactive, visual learning.
One way to
increase visual learning is by leveraging purposeful game play to engage students
and build their understanding of critical math skills. As the leading research
recommends, games should be incorporated into instruction, together with other
methods of instruction such as explicit teacher-driven modeling, and
student-driven guided practice.
For learners who
approach math with difficulty or discomfort, math games provide a more engaging
context for introducing and practicing new skills. In other words, the impact
on motivation and engagement alone can explain much of the positive impact from
games. Games provide students with opportunities to drive their own learning,
develop problem solving skills, and receive immediate feedback, encouraging
productive struggle and persistence in the face of temporary setbacks, according
to Nasichatul Ummah.
It is also
important for students to have opportunities for hands-on, tactile learning in
the math classroom. Educators can use manipulatives and concrete examples to
develop each learner’s understanding across a continuum of concrete,
representational and abstract reasoning skills. Manipulatives can be used both
in physical form and through digital applications.
When students are
provided these learning opportunities involving manipulatives, combined with
game-based learning experiences, throughout my experience, they often report
higher levels of interest in math.