Many students rank math as their least-favorite subject. Student disengagement was a common issue when I was teaching math and working with teachers and coaches. It’s a nationwide problem, too.
According to survey data from RAND’s American Youth Panel, 49% of students in grades 5-12 reported losing interest in math about half or more of the time. In addition, 30% said they had never considered themselves a “math person.”
Why are students bored with an essential subject in school, careers and everyday life?
Many math lessons still follow the traditional “sit and get” model, where the teacher talks and students passively listen. Lessons rely on closed-ended problems with only one correct answer. Real-world connections are rarely made. There is little discussion or interactivity. So, students tune out and their interest and confidence in math decline.
Engage students with inquiry-based learning
One way to re-engage students — without sacrificing rigor — is by implementing inquiry-based learning.
Instead of simply presenting facts and formulas, teachers pose open-ended questions and real-world problems that challenge students to think like mathematicians. The emphasis shifts from simply memorizing and completing a process to understanding how and why it works. Math concepts and vocabulary are embedded within meaningful contexts, making them more accessible. As students investigate, test their ideas and share their thinking, they build essential skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.
Research shows that inquiry-based learning positively impacts students’ motivation and academic performance. This approach is also helpful for students who fear math because it takes the emphasis off of finding the “right answer” and places it on students’ reasoning and the evidence they provide for their ideas. An incorrect answer isn’t a failure; it’s part of the learning process. This perspective helps reduce math anxiety and allows students to gain confidence in their abilities.
Here are four ways to put inquiry-based learning into practice in any math class.
1. Encourage discourse
Mathematical discourse can take the form of whole-class, small-group or one-on-one discussions. It isn’t just about talking in class; it’s about enriching the learning experience. The goal is to create a space where students feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, explaining their reasoning, and building on the thinking of others. When students can articulate their thoughts and actively listen, it fosters better understanding and creates a more dynamic, inclusive classroom environment.
Sample exercise:
- Decide and Defend: Pose an open-ended question that requires students to make a claim they will support mathematically. After constructing their arguments, students present and defend their claims. As they respectfully debate and challenge each other’s ideas, they will reinforce or uncover gaps in their understanding and learn from their peers.
2. Make real-world connections
How often have teachers heard students ask, “Why do I need to learn this?” or “When will I ever use this outside of school?” Real-world applications demonstrate the practical value of math and help students relate to it more easily. When students see math’s relevance in everyday life, it becomes more meaningful and engaging.
Sample exercises:
- Math Today: Use articles or videos to examine current issues and how people use math to address them.
- Now We’re Cooking: Bring a recipe to teach multiplication, division or fractions. Ask students to increase or decrease the serving sizes and adjust each ingredient.
- Saving Up: With younger students, set a savings goal for a toy and have them calculate how much they must save each week to buy it. For older students, introduce percentages and interest to illustrate how their money can grow, teaching financial literacy as well.
- Planning a Field Trip: Younger students can plan a trip where they calculate travel times, distances, and expenses. Older students can calculate travel times between two cities using different modes of transportation or use geometry to find the shortest route between two points.
3. Highlight career connections
Demonstrating how different professions routinely use math also emphasizes its relevance. In addition, career exploration helps students identify their interests and discover potential career paths. This can motivate them to study and pursue higher levels of math.
Sample exercises:
- Health care: Have students calculate the correct medication dosage based on a patient’s weight to demonstrate how accurate math skills can save lives.
- Finance: Discuss how analysts use math to predict market trends. Have students manage a mock stock portfolio and calculate gains and losses to see how math helps investors make strategic decisions.
- Engineering: Highlight how engineers use math to design safe buildings and bridges. Challenge students to create a blueprint, calculate the materials needed, build a model, and test the structural integrity.
- Journalism: Ask students to choose a topic they’re passionate about and write a news article in which they research and interpret data.
- Coding: Explore how software developers write algorithms to power students’ favorite apps and games.
4. Have students think about their own thinking
Students who practice metacognition can better manage negative feelings about math and improve their performance.
Sample exercise:
- My Math Thoughts: Invite students to write about their attitudes toward math, their engagement with a lesson, or their intellectual or emotional reactions to a mathematical concept, relationship, or process. When students pause to think and reflect, they can discover what’s challenging them, rather than feeling intimidated. This self-awareness makes math more approachable and paves the way for long-term success.
Bringing joy to teaching and learning
Inquiry-based learning transforms math instruction into a more engaging, enjoyable experience for students and teachers.
While students’ attitudes about math may not change overnight, inquiry-based learning can spark their curiosity and help them take more ownership of their education. According to a YouGov survey, math is the top subject Americans wish they had paid more attention to in school. So, the best time to capture students’ attention is right now.
When students can see the wonder and relevance of math in the everyday world — and view themselves as capable mathematicians — they will develop a deep, lasting interest that extends far beyond the classroom.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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