How To Make Math Fun For Middle School: 9 Easy Tips
Discover creative strategies on how to make math fun for middle school students and turn learning into an exciting adventure!
Full disclosure though, we really enjoy math! We actually look forward to it, BUT, we don’t just sit there and do workbooks and online study! Even in middle school!
A lot of the reason people struggle with math is that they make it boring! No really, that is generally the reason. I will speak to other homeschool moms who HATE math, and I ask them what they do for math. This is generally the response:
We absolutely hate it. We put it off until the very end of the day when we have done the “fun” stuff. Then they will sit at their desk and do a couple of pages of a workbook / or online lesson.
Yeah, I think we would hate math if that is what we did too!
Check out our 7 top tips on how to choose a homeschool math curriculum.
I am going to share with you our top tips on how we continue to enjoy math even in middle school!
**Disclosure: I was compensated for my time to write this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I only share resources that I would use with my own family and those that I believe other homeschool families will enjoy. There may be affiliate links in this post.**
How to make math fun?
Dive into the exciting world of middle school math with these nine tips that will transform your homeschooling experience.
Begin by changing the narrative around math and discover engaging methods like online math games, books, darts, board games, and even baking to make learning math an enjoyable adventure.
Embrace a positive attitude and watch your child’s perspective on math transform as they embark on a journey filled with fun and learning.
Start saying math is fun
Or more importantly, stop saying you hate or dread math!
I honestly believe that if we had said that we hated math, or that math was hard, our son would instantly hate it too!
They are sponges aren’t they, they take in and absorb everything we say. Especially as we homeschool, they have no one else influencing them in math.
So if they hate it, I imagine they have got that from you. Don’t get me wrong, I have done this with science, so I know how hard it is to change the conversation. But it’s ok, it’s not too late.
Just start today, “math is fun”.
See it’s not hard. Keep saying it, and get your children to say it too.
Yes, they will think you are crazy, and that’s ok too! Even if it makes them smile, you are on the way to winning the math battle!
Play online math games
Find a math curriculum that has games included! That way you don’t have to spend even more money!!
CTCMath is an excellent example of this. Not only do they offer a half-price discount for homeschoolers, and a free trial, they have 3 really fun online math games.
So the first game pictured above is a great one, it is speed skills.
There are four different levels and are broken down further. Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and order of operations.
The second game is a shooter-type game, so perfect for my son! You have to shoot the correct answer, and he really enjoys it.
Now, this third game called swap the pieces is a real strategy game. I hate to say it, but I couldn’t work it out. So when my son did as you can see from his face he was very pleased with himself!
Check out CTCMath for yourself.
Read books
We read a lot in our homeschool, and we have books on every subject. Including math!
I will admit it is much harder to find math books for middle school than for early years. Ten Little Pirates was a favorite in our house.
It’s a Numbers Game! Basketball: The math behind the perfect bounce pass, the buzzer-beating bank shot, and so much more!
The Trachtenberg Speed System of Basic Mathematics is a book we have used as a read-aloud and I kind of wish we hadn’t!!
My son now insists on doing this method, which is ten times quicker than the “normal method”. But he does it with no working out. So if you are using a formal math curriculum he won’t get marks for workings out, just for the correct answer.
Not a great method if you are in the public school system, but great for homeschooling! We got the idea from the film Gifted which I highly recommend.
Do the Math: Secrets, Lies, and Algebra. We don’t have this book, as my son would think it is too “girly” but the reviews are excellent.
Play darts
Playing darts is an excellent way to learn math, we use this magnetic dart board and we play at least once a week.
It is absolutely fantastic for adding and subtracting. More importantly, it is a really fun way to do middle school math!
It won’t help with algebra or geometry, but with basic quick math, it will help no end.
Play board games
If you enjoy playing board games check out the best math board games. Our favorite at the minute is Yahtzee.
Learning (even in middle school) doesn’t have to be in front of a workbook or online. In fact, we have found when there is no pressure on getting good grades. My son is more willing to learn new concepts and retains the information much quicker.
Check out our favorite middle school math board games!
Play sudoku
As I keep saying math is and should be a fun subject, that is as long as you change your mindset. Download our free printable sudoku for kids worksheets and see how they get on.
There are three different levels from easy to hard so they are suitable from upper elementary to high school.
Financial literacy
Financial literacy is so important for all aspects of life, but it is great for middle school math too.
Check out our favorite financial literacy for middle school. It teaches about money, but also simple things like debits and credits, which are so important for understanding math.
What about giving an allowance? Let them be more responsible for money and savings.
Study math first!
Even though we enjoy math, we still study it first. Especially now it is getting harder, some subjects he flies through. But geometry for example he needs to concentrate and work on it. Check out a review of the best geometry homeschool curriculum.
That way if they really struggle with math they are not worrying about it all day.
They get it over and done with and then get on with the rest of their ‘Fun” day.
Remember as they get towards being teenagers their body clocks change.
My son used to go to sleep by 8 pm and wake naturally at 6 am.
This had been his routine for years, until about 3 months ago, he is going to be 12 at the end of the year. When he now doesn’t go to sleep until 10 pm and wakes up at about 9 am.
It is such a change for us, but as we homeschool we can be very flexible with this. You don’t need to start homeschool at 8 am (we did in elementary years, so this is a HUGE change!).
Baking
This is another great fun way to do middle school math! There is measuring, division, multiplication, metric conversions, and more.
We are from England so there are a lot of metric conversions for us! Trying to understand how many cups in 225 grams of flour for example was a great math lesson!
What tips for homeschooling math do you have? Please let me know in the comments below.
Last Updated on 4 September 2024 by Clare Brown