As math teachers, we all know that math requires practice. But the standard math practice worksheet gets old for students quickly. Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with a simple math practice worksheet. They’re straightforward, and give our students the practice they need. But we do have other options. Keep reading for a run down of my favorite options that are beyond the math practice worksheet.
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Math Practice Mazes
These are a-maze-ing for practice! Mazes have students start in one box, and solve the given problem. Their answer leads them to the next problem, and so on until they reach the end.
Mazes are perfect for an independent practice activity, and they give students a clear goal to accomplish. They aren’t just trying to complete all of the problems presented. In fact, in most mazes, students won’t have to complete every problem on the page.
The only downside is that mazes usually don’t give students much space to show their work. So, they may need a separate sheet of paper or a dry erase board too. Due to the lack of space, mazes are ideal for simple math practice problems.
Wondering what a maze looks like? Click here.
Grading Math Practice Mazes
The biggest benefit to using mazes is that they are so easy to grade. You just look for students to have the correct path. Mazes are also easy to implement digitally. They make for a great drag and drop activity on Google Slides.
Task cards: A Math Practice Worksheet Alternative
Task cards are very popular. They work well for all subject areas and all grade levels. And there are so many different ways you can choose to implement them. When using task cards in math, each practice problem is shown on a separate card. Students are then given a recording sheet, and they complete each problem using the task cards and recording sheet.
Typically, I like to give each table in my classroom they’re own complete set of task cards, and let them work through them as they choose. Sometimes they like to split them up, complete them individually, and then show each other how to solve the problems. Sometimes they choose to work on one card at a time all together. It just depends on the topic, and the group of students.
Click here to see a task cards example.
Task Cards Pros & Cons
What I love about task cards is that each math practice problem gets its own card, which means students are focusing on just one problem at a time. This is especially wonderful for students that feel overwhelmed when they see a math practice worksheet with so many problems to complete.
Task cards are also very easy to implement digitally as a Google Form. However, if you want to use physical task cards, there is some set up involved. It’s best to have the task cards prepared for students ahead of time, which means printing them and cutting them out. If you want to use the task cards from year to year, then you can laminate them too. And if you want each group of students to have a complete set of cards, then you need to prepare multiple sets of cards. Luckily, preparing task cards is a task you can easily delegate to students.
Task Card Recording Sheets
The only real downside to using tack cards as math practice is that students won’t have the problems to view later. Since the problems are on cards that students don’t usually get to keep, students can’t see why they did the work they show on the recording sheet. This missing context is not helpful for studying later.
Great Math Teaching Idea: Sorting Activities
A card sort is an activity where students sort cards into categories. Each card may have a math problem, vocabulary words, diagrams, or anything your heart desires. Students complete the activity by sorting each card into an appropriate category. Some card sorts have designated categories for students to sort into, and some card sorts do not include categories and require students to determine the category.
In math, students are often confronted with problems that follow different rules or a different set of steps depending on how the problem is stated or set up. Before students can solve these problems, they need to determine which category the problem falls into. Card sorts give students practice where they have to stop and differentiate the problem before they can solve it. This skill is crucial to reinforce as students frequently rush to solve problems before they’ve completely analyzed them.
Card Sorts Pros & Cons
Aside from allowing students to practice categorization, card sorts are easy to complete as a group, and they are a great conversation starter. They are also very easy to digitize as a Google Slides drag-and-drop activity. The only downside is that card sorts take a little bit more time to grade than other math practice worksheet alternatives.
Ideas for Implementation
Since I use interactive notebooks, when I use card sorts in Geometry, I typically turn them into a cut and paste activity. Students cut out each card, and then glue them into a table under their corresponding category, and then we add the whole page into their interactive notebook. But I make sure to remind students to have me check their sort before gluing the pieces down.
However, when I use card sorts in my other high school math classes, I like to laminate the cards and a board, and attach the cards to the board with velcro. For this card sort set up, I have my students work in groups, and after I check that the group completed the card sort correctly, I ask the students to scramble the answers for my next class. Then, I store the card sort activity with the pieces securely velcroed to the board for next year.
Escape Rooms: A Math Practice Game
Escape rooms are probably my students’ favorite math practice worksheet alternative. They are very engaging. Students will start them right away, before the bell even rings. They give students an obvious goal, and are conducive to collaborative group work.
For escape rooms, I use a template from Miss Crafty Math Teacher that allows me to add my own math practice problems. I can even repurpose a math practice worksheet into an escape room activity.
In an escape room, students are given clues in the form of math practice problems that help students to open a lock.
The only downside is that the activity takes some set up. In addition to printing, laminating, and cutting the escape room clues, I use lockable boxes from the Dollar Tree and letter combination locks. And of course, the last box holds a sweet prize for the winners.
Math Practice Online
As mentioned throughout this post, all of these activities can be digitized. Even escape rooms can be made digital using Google Forms.
Pixel Puzzles
But in addition to those, I love pixel puzzles. Pixel puzzles are a Google Sheets self-checking activity where a picture is slowly revealed each time the student types a correct answer. They provide students with instant feedback and positive reinforcement. And they’re fun.
As a teacher, I love that pixel puzzles are easy to grade. I just have to check that the picture is completely revealed. But the downside is not being able to see students’ work. Although, if you wanted to, you could add a recording sheet for students to turn in.
Here’s what a pixel puzzle activity looks like.
If you want to create your own pixel puzzle activities, check out these templates made by Hello Algebra.
Google Forms
An easy to implement (and easy to grade) math practice worksheet alternative is converting a worksheet into a Google Form. Google forms can be set up so that students receive their score immediately after submitting their answers.
Again, the downside here is that you will not be able to see students’ work. And google forms are not terribly exciting for students. But they are easy for students to use and understand.
There are so many options and possibilities for you to go beyond the math practice worksheet. And the ones listed here are just my favorites. There are so many ways you can spice up your math practice. Just remember, when choosing a math practice worksheet alternative, to consider the goal of the practice. Then, determine which of these practice structures will work best to meet that goal.
If you’re a geometry teacher looking for some different practice activities, be sure to check out my geometry activities bundle.
