Students Talking in Math: Activity to Get Students to Talk about Math

My favorite thing about teaching is hearing students talk about math. It is what brings me joy as a math teacher. But believe it or not, math is not a student's favorite thing to talk about. 

Why should students talk in math class?

1. Students want to talk! I want to give them as many opportunities to talk as possible-and keep it on topic as much as possible. 
2. When a student says something out loud, it helps solidify it in their brain.
3. When students hear their classmate say something out loud, they remember it better. 
4. Speaking about math helps students clarify what they are thinking until they understand it. 
5. Students will be more engaged when they have opportunities to talk to each other. 

Unfortunately, most students don't come to math class knowing how to talk about math and need scaffolding to get where we want them to be. 

One of the activities I have used to scaffold conversations about math is a True/False response. Each student gets a red and green card. They could also have different colored post its. Two colors are better so you can easily see the responses from the class. 

Before starting the activity, explain to students they are going to read the statements and determine if they are true or false. BUT, they cannot tell the class. Instead, they will turn to their neighbor or group and share their response. If students disagree, they will explain to each other why their answer is correct. If they change their mind, great. If they don't change their mind, great too. They don't have to be successful at convincing each other, the most important thing is talking. 

You put up a prompt--this can be done with any topic. I have an example below. 

Students talk with their neighbor group. When you are ready--give 1-2 minutes-tell everyone to hold up their red card for false and their green card for true. (Or whatever colors you have chosen)

These are low-stakes conversations. Students don't have to talk long--but any talking about math is a good start. The more confident they feel in their skills, the more they will talk. 

Click here to access a free True/False activity about integer operation models. 

Interested in other math activities? This has warmups for several 6th grade math topics that encourage students to talk about math. It can be used for STAAR review but also works throughout the year. 

Using Algebra Tiles to Teach Solving Equations

How to use Algebra Tiles?

I was first introduced to algebra tiles the year I taught 6th grade math. The Texas standards had just changed and all Texas math teachers were scrambling to learn the new standards. What I had learned in 8th grade advanced math, I was now going to be teaching my 6th graders. 

8th grade math is where math got hard for me. I was very good at following steps exactly like I was told with problems exactly like the teacher showed--any variation and I was lost. Because I didn't actually understand the what, why and how behind math. It actually took me until college algebra to really understand algebra--and I was a good student! 

Algebra Tiles are great for taking an abstract concept like solving equations--and making it more concrete. Even middle school students need concrete examples--and algebra tiles are great. 

After you teach students how to use algebra tiles to solves equations and inequalities, you can use this free resource for them to practice reading the models and using them to solve. 

If you aren't familiar with algebra tiles, I would definitely recommend checking them out. There are tons of videos on Youtube that can walk you through how to use them to solve equations, inequalities and integer operations. 

Here are some other Algebra Tile resources.

ZONK! A Math Review Game for Middle School Math-Have Fun Reviewing Math

A quick middle school math review game no technology required (Except a document camera and a projector)

Middle School Math Review Game

What game can I use to review math with my middle school students?

Technology is great. But I do think that students need time in the classroom that require no technology. A teacher early in my career introduced me to the game ZONK. It helps students stay engaged in a review and creates some friendly competition.

You need some popsicle sticks. About 20 to 25 of them.  On about 18 of those popsicle sticks write the values 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600. On the remaining popsicle sticks write the word ZONK! Place these popsicle sticks in a cup where students cannot see the writing on the sticks. 

You can review any topic that you want. You can use task cards, a cut up worksheet, a released state exam or problems that you write on index cards. You just need to be able to display them under a document camera. If you want to get really fancy, you can create slides in Google slides with problems on them and display that. 

Split your class into 2 to 4 groups. Each group will get a problem to work on displayed for everyone to see. Each group needs to work on the problem in case a group does not give a correct answer and they are able to steal their turn. Once a group gets the correct answer, they get to pick popsicle sticks out of the cup. They can pull out as many as they want and rack up the points. However as soon as they pull out the word ZONK, they lose all of the points they would have collected that round.

My classes loved the competition and it was fun to watch team come up with their strategies. Do they just draw one stick and be happy, or do they keep going and risk it. 

Have you used this game before? How did your students like it?