Math games are used in many ways to both develop fluency and provide intentional or targeted practice on specific skills and concepts. Math games as a form of small group practice also develop competencies in collaboration and communication. On the Coast Metro Elementary Mathematics Project website, there is a page dedicated to Math Games (see tile pictured below), with games sorted by grade level and concept.

https://coastmetro.ca/elementary-math-project/math-games/

Math games can be incorporated into Math Workshop or provided as a choice for students for practice. It is important to make sure that the choices afforded by math games are aligned with learning goals. Students need awareness of where they are in their learning – what number range they are working with, and what concepts and skills they need to develop. For example, a grade 2 student who is developing fact fluency in addition is aware that they need to practice using known facts to compute related facts and that practice the concept of decomposing addends to bridge over ten. Knowing what their learning goals are supports students in choosing an appropriate math game for practice. As the teacher, you could list the available math games on a whiteboard and provide information such as “You might choose this game _____ if you need to practice _____.”

As students are playing math games, the teacher can ask assessment and support questions to guide and focus student learning, such as:

• What math are you practicing with this game?
• How did you figure that out? What strategy did you use?
• What is a strategy for winning this game?
• What have you learned by playing this game?

Once in a while, depending how often you are playing math games, invite students to reflect on their learning and set new goals for practice, either in an oral interview or written/drawn in a math notebook. Use prompts such as:

• What game/s did you play? What math were you practicing? What mathematical thinking and strategies were you using?
• What are your goals for your math learning? What next steps will you take? What math games will help you develop the concepts and skills you need to learn?