You’ve probably been there: It’s ten minutes into your online math class, and most kids are working hard at the problem you assigned, except for one student. (Let’s call him Einstein). Einstein finished his work in five minutes, and while he’s still logged on to your class, he’s mentally logged off and playing Minecraft in another tab.
Noticing this, you may be tempted to take one of the following paths:
- Path 1: Point It Out
The impulse for dealing with a disengaged student like Einstein may be to reprimand him for not staying engaged. However, if you choose this path, you may end up with a discouraged student who disengages even further.
A 2024 study found that gifted mathematics students tended to become bored quicker than the average student, so Einstein resorting to Minecraft when he’s not feeling challenged should come as no surprise. It’s likely that Einstein already knows he’s disengaged, so pointing it out isn’t likely to re-engage him.
- Path 2: Bump Them Ahead
The other impulse is to let Einstein work ahead and move onto the next grade early. For a few students this might be a viable pathway, as there are occasionally students who might need to accelerate to upper level high school courses or beyond while still in middle school. For most talented math students, though, moving them ahead too fast runs the risk of leaving gaps in their understanding that may catch up to them by the time they reach AP Calculus.
So, how can you keep a student like Einstein engaged when they are gifted learners, or even just a little more advanced than your other students? Let’s look at path 3.
- Path 3: Keep ‘Em Learning
Students may have to opt in for a bit of extra work, but if they are willing, there are tactics you can use to help keep your gifted and advanced students engaged in your online math classes. In fact, the same 2024 study also found that gifted mathematics students were quicker to become interested in new activities.
Here are some methods I’ve used in my own classes.
1. Try High-Level Puzzles
I’ve found that math games and logic puzzles are a great way to keep high-performing students engaged. They are particularly useful because we as the teachers can monitor progress and adjust difficulty to align with our student’s needs.
One example is KenKen, a puzzle that was specifically designed by Japanese math teacher Tetsuya Miyamoto as an engaging way to challenge his students. Sudoku, Nerdle, and cryptography are other great options. The Center for Education in Mathematics and Computing also has a great problem of the week site, where students can pick a puzzle from a variety of levels and challenge themselves.
2. Find Real-World Application Problems
From baking to woodworking to shopping, showing your gifted students why math is useful and where they can use their math skills in the real world can help keep them motivated to challenge themselves.
If they’re done with their work for the week by Monday afternoon, ask students what their hobbies are and figure out a way to integrate math into whatever sparks their curiosity. How many birdhouses can be made from a single sheet of plywood? How many soccer balls could fit in the back of your family car? Get creative.
To kick it up a notch, make the tasks as wacky as you can. I recently had two of my advanced students calculate how long it would take for every human on earth to fill the Grand Canyon by urinating into it. Cheeky? Yes, but my students loved it and didn’t stop working till they solved the problem.
3. Create Leadership Opportunities
Putting advanced students into a position of leadership in your classroom can sometimes be controversial. You may get asked, “Why should a student be responsible for teaching his peers?” The fact is, teaching others is a proven way to help solidify learning and is a great way of keeping your advanced student engaged.
If a student is willing, this can be as casual as asking them to take leadership in a breakout room or getting them to explain to the class how they solved a difficult problem.
4. Prep them for Math Contests
There are a number of great math contests out there that are built to challenge students who are gifted or advanced. The best part is that the contests often come with excellent prep materials to help guide students on their way, making the process straightforward for both teacher and student. My students who enroll are always excited to see where they rank and are eager to ask me for help to prepare. A few great examples are Mathematica Centrum Contests, Canadian Mathematical Society, Caribou Math Competition, and the University of Waterloo Mathematics and Computing Contests.
5. Keep The Magic Alive
Perhaps my favorite way of engaging accelerated learners is by helping them think outside the box. How can math be humorous, artistic, or even magical? The book Math Wonders to Inspire Teachers and Students by Afred S. Posamentier can be a great resource for finding ways to keep students inspired.
Exposing students to the wonders of math such as how the Fibonacci sequence can be seen in nature, or even how magicians use math in card tricks, can reignite their interest and help keep the magic of math alive.
Here is one great example:
- Take any three-digit number (all digits must be unique)
- Find all the two-digit numbers that can be made using these digits (no repeats)
- Add them up
- Divide that sum by the sum of the three digits
- The answer will always be 22!
Encourage their gifts
At the end of the day, perhaps the most important way to keep a gifted or advanced math student learning and growing is with the simplest tool: encouragement. Remind them of their talent and show them all the possibilities that can come with continuing to work out their math muscles.
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