MathFileFolderGames

Meet Justin Holladay: Math Teacher by day, Game Designer by night! Armed with a B.Ed. and a B.A.S. in Mathematics/Science from the University of Lethbridge, I'm on a mission to make math irresistible. My journey began with a simple passion for helping students sharpen their essential math skills, which soon evolved into crafting educational adventures. When I'm not in the classroom deploying my math games into the wild or teaming up with fellow educators to brainstorm innovative teaching strategies, you can find me tucked away in my clandestine lab. There, I conjure up the next generation of printable math games designed to transform classroom learning into a playground of numbers and logic. Who says you can't have fun while learning fractions?

6 Benefits of Math Games for Kids There's more to math than 2+2, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that interactive math games for kids will have a bigger impact on your students than just improving their ability to add. Here are six tangible, real-world benefits of math games that you could be taking advantage of today. Math Games Help with Problem Solving Skills It's the lament of math teachers worldwide that students would rather be kicking a soccer ball than memorizing their multiplication tables. If you incorporate the same numbers into games, challenges and word problems, however, you'll turn the exercise on its head and give them a reason to care. Cool math games for kids will entice them to learn much more than cut-and-dry lessons. Math Games Help with Better Cooperation The most fun math games for kids are the ones where students work together in teams to reach a common goal. In addition to making math an exciting, enjoyable subject with the thrill of competition, group games will also encourage sharing, communication and cooperation among peers. They'll have to talk to each other and strategize together to win. Math Games Help with Critical Thought Speaking of strategy, math games are one of the best ways to open a child's mind to higher-level thinking. For example, budgeting or financial games will require them to think ahead and plan for the future. Factoring games (free) will force them to consider multiple solutions before deciding on the best one. They'll need to think sideways, creatively, instead of just tackling problems head-on, and this is a skill that will benefit them for their entire lives. Math Games Help with Stronger Academic Performance Overall Math games improve more than just counting. For example, printable math games for kids will also require them to read, write and comprehend words, so they'll be boosting their literacy skills while also developing their mathematical ones. All of the important thinking areas of the brain will be fully engaged. Math Games Help with Improved Self-Confidence Many students are insecure about their math skills. They tend to internalize their failures or buy into stereotypes like "I'm never going to get it" or "I'm too much of a girl to be good at math." Math games can help reverse these attitudes and perceptions. With every win, the child will have more and more faith that they can understand math, and this confidence will seep into their other subjects too. Math Games Help with Added Value to Math as a Subject If you're an algebra teacher, you've probably heard this one before: "But what am I going to do with it?" Math games will ensure that children never ask this question. They'll have seen and applied math to a variety of subjects, problems and events throughout their early childhood education, so they'll grow up understanding how useful and necessary it is. These are just a few of the benefits you'll enjoy when you incorporate math games into the classroom. You don't have to break the bank for them, either. You can find plenty of low-cost and free math games for kids in my TPT store. Good luck! Happy counting!

One of my iOS math apps, Jack and the Beanstalk: A Mathematical Adventure, is a recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award! My website, MathFileFolderGames.com, is among the HomeSchool.com Top 100 Educational Websites of 2016!

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Oh, I also strongly believe that math games are a great tool to involve parents, guardians, siblings, and other important people in a child's life. It's a fantastic way to facilitate the connection between home and school. Visit my website at www.mathfilefoldergames.com. Also, follow me on Facebook at Facebook.com/MathFileFolderGames. Math should be fun!