Let’s dive into the world of math education. As teachers, we understand the critical balance between introducing new concepts and ensuring students continually practice and reinforce their skills. Without ongoing practice, even well-taught concepts can slip away, which is why it’s vital to integrate spiral review throughout the school year. But what does effective continual practice look like in the classroom?
Traditionally, many educators rely on stacks of worksheets for practice during small group or independent work time. While this method can help manage classroom dynamics and provide focused support, it often leads to disengagement. I’ve seen this firsthand in my own classroom, where students, despite their aptitude in math, would groan at the sight of yet another worksheet. The repetitive nature of these activities began to dull their enthusiasm, turning math practice into a dreaded chore.
Recognizing the need for change, I decided to introduce a new approach that would make practice both engaging and effective. Enter math craft-activities—an innovative solution that combines essential math practice with creative, hands-on activities. Instead of merely filling out worksheets, students now get to cut, glue, color, and create, all while reinforcing their math skills.
These math crafts are more than just arts and crafts; they are thoughtfully designed activities that integrate real practice of the actual math curriculum standards with creative expression. Each craft is differentiated to cater to varying skill levels, allowing you to easily customize activities for diverse student needs. Here’s how it works: You literally walk to the copier and PUSH. THE. BUTTONS…then you will have a variety of math crafts ready to go—with easy, medium, and advanced levels. This approach enables you to efficiently manage your lesson plans and provide targeted practice without overwhelming yourself or your students.
One of the best aspects of math crafts is their versatility and simplicity. You can quickly copy and distribute the crafts, saving precious time and effort. Moreover, once the math portion is complete, students move on to the fun part—decorating and assembling their creations. This not only allows them needed math practice but also provides you with ready-to-display, math-focused classroom decorations. Whether for bulletin boards or a focus on achievement board, these crafts serve a dual purpose, brightening up your classroom while reinforcing essential skills.
So, if you are looking for a win-win solution that can rejuvenate your classroom and motivate your students to embrace math with renewed enthusiasm. Give it a try and watch how your students’ attitudes toward math transform from dread to delight! You can check out some FREE math Craft Activities in our FREE Resource Library here on the blog! If you like them, I have individual math craft activities and I have also bundled the crafts into monthly bundles which are 25% off! Check them out here!
~Heather Johnson 33
