1. Presented by Heather Sparks, NBCT 2009 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year
Improving Student Engagement In Mathematics: Strategies for All Learners
Presented by
Heather Sparks, NBCT 2009 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year

2. Why are students disengaged?
Lack of prior knowledge
Missing foundational skills
Limited experiences with “doing” real math
“One right answer” approach
“Permission” to be “bad” at math
Others?

3. STRATEGIES: 1. Allow students to verbalize their thinking
Every day, expect students to explain their
thinking.
Content example: Sense & Nonsense
Roller Derby

4. Sense & Nonsense Mr. Bragg says he’s right 100% of the time.
The Garcia family ate out last Saturday. The bill was $460.
Ellen saved her money and bought a new bicycle for $92.
Daniel missed 10 problems on his science test. He thinks he
made an A.
Rose ate ½ a pizza for dinner. The next day, she ate 1/2 of the
leftovers for breakfast. She wants to share what is left with
her four friends for lunch.

5. Roller Derby
Organize 12 beans on your game board by placing them under the
number(s) representing each sum I will most likely roll.
Each time the dice are rolled, if you have a bean under that sum, you
Can remove the bean. The first person to remove all his/her beans
Is the winner.

6. STRATEGIES: 2. Use visual representations
Visuals and/or manipulatives should be
available and integrated into relevant
math lessons.
Content example: Ben’s Garden Plot
Extend & Explain

7. Ben’s Garden Plot

8. Extend & Explain Patterns

9. Extend & Explain Patterns

10. STRATEGIES: 3. Help students develop “bridge” tools
Students should be taught specific strategies
to improve memory and understanding
Content example: Hey, Diddle Diddle
Big G
Finger Multiplication

11. Hey, Diddle Diddle Hey, diddle diddle! The median’s the middle
You add and divide for the mean.
The mode is the one you see the most,
And the range is the difference between.

12. Big G

13. STRATEGIES: 4. Create “reference” resources
Students should maintain a math journal to
record and store math resources.
Content example: Interactive Math Notebook
3-D Figure Foldable

14. Interactive Notebooks

15. STRATEGIES: 5. Constant exposure to meaningful math
Every day, provide meaningful math
investigations including
tasks
games
puzzles
stories

16. Where to Find Tasks www.illustrativemathematics.org
(UT Dana Center Early Math Resources, PK-2)
(Robert Kaplinsky’s Problem-Based Math Lessons)

17. Games
Poison
Mission Impossible
Smartboard Games

18. Puzzles Tarsia Puzzles Number Line Patterns Which One Doesn’t Belong?
Estimation 180
Visual Patterns

19. Number Line Patterns

20. Which One Doesn’t Belong?

21. Estimation 180

22. Visual Patterns

23. Stories Even Steven and Odd Todd Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream
Two of Everything
The Great Graph Contest
Patterns In Peru
Spaghetti and Meatballs for All!
Fraction Action
It’s Probably Penny

24. This presentation and other resources are available at
Comments & Questions?
This presentation and other
resources are available at
www. hisparks.com