How to Help Middle School Students Like Math

What response do you receive when you tell someone you teach middle school math?  For thirty-two years, the response I get is always pretty much the same.  "Wow!  I don't know how you can do it.  I couldn't do that!  You must be really patient."  I jokingly respond that since I've never taught any other grade level, I don't know any better!

Maybe you do need a certain personality and a good dose of patience to teach and enjoy middle schoolers, but the rewards are worth it.

I feel that an important part of my job is to help students like math.  Of course, some of them already do enjoy it, but those are not the ones we tend to hear about.  I would dearly love to eliminate the stereotypically negative math jokes and comments I see much too often.  Math can be fun!

So, what can we do to make students want to like math?

Build Their Confidence

Provide opportunities for all students to experience success.  Praise them often both individually and as a class.  With students who struggle a lot or say they don't like math, celebrate small successes.  You may need to work one-on-one with certain students to make an impact.  Look for opportunities to do this.  Remember, pump up their confidence and find things to genuinely compliment.  Any small step of work you can focus on can help.  ("You really know your math facts!  Your steps are shown so neatly!  That was a tricky problem, but you made it look easy!  I have so many students who struggle with that step, but you did it perfectly!")  Many students say they don't like math simply because they aren't experiencing success.  After all, don't we like most things more if we feel we are good at them?

Have Routines Yet Mix It Up

This may sound like a contradiction ... however, middle school students need a balance of established classroom routines and engaging activities.  My students definitely have bellwork, note-taking, and homework procedures in my classroom.  However, the instructional activity, format of notes, and the nature of the bellwork varies.

• Bellwork:  Spiral Review, Problems Focused on a Specific Skill, Cut Out Notes, Pick Up Handouts, Turn in and/or Check Homework, Watch a Motivational Video and Write a Response, Pair & Share
• Notes:  Foldable Notes, Card Sorts, Graphic Organizers, Pre-printed Notes, Handwritten Notes, Cut and Paste Activities, Flashcards
• Instruction:  Traditional Modeling/Lecture/Discussion, Partner Activities, Readings, Video Lessons, Card Sorts, Games, Color by Number Activities, Puzzles, Cut and Paste Activities, Large Group/Small Group/Partner/Individual Work, Stations, Problem Trails, Gallery Walks, Projects, Digital Activities, Demonstrations

Use Manipulatives & Movement
Middle school students thrive on activity so any activity that involves movement of some type is always a hit with this age group.  Many of the suggestions above for bellwork, notes, and instruction incorporate movement.  Math manipulatives of all types are also wonderful for middle school students.  In addition to helping them visualize math problems, hands on objects often help them to focus.  I think that when their hands are busy, they tend to talk less, keep their hands to themselves, and stay on task better.

Let Them Have Fun
Yes, the middle schools years are often awkward.  Students want to be treated as adults, yet not.  They are often torn between wanting to be kids and grownups at the same time.  Is their education and schoolwork important?  Of course!  However, even adults like to play.  Middle schoolers who enjoy school will like school.  If they enjoy math, they will like math.  Incorporate games and humor into your classroom.  Students will remember that they had fun in math class and math will suddenly be infinitely more "likeable".

Let's make math the subject kids love most!