Sometimes it feels like 21st century students expect to be entertained rather than taught. Teachers worry that bringing math games into their classroom does just that rather than promote healthy learning. Playing fun games becomes a problem when they are used as a reward or as a game for the sake of a game and not incorporated into the lesson. This article looks at the pros and cons of developing effective ways to make math fun by using fun games as part of your daily lessons.

Here are the advantages of using fun math games as part of daily lessons:

1. Children think they are getting away with it, when in reality they are reviewing and reinforcing facts and concepts. You can keep their interest while working hard on them.
2. Students are not stupid, they know they are still working, but given the option they would rather do a fun activity than boring exercises. Motivation is key to learning and games are motivating!
3. Playing fun games encourages cooperative learning when divided into small groups to play. Games encourage positive interaction among students.
4. Multisensory reinforcement with seeing, saying and doing is built into the gaming experience. You “see, hear and say” while playing an educational game and manipulating pieces and often cards as well.
5. Playing a few complete games in the classroom to make math fun gives students a break and allows them to move around a bit; Activate their sensors!

Here are some downsides to using math games in your daily lessons:

1. Games put too much emphasis on winning. It only takes one poor loser to ruin the whole class activity.
2. It takes too long to learn the rules and organize in small groups.
3. Your classroom does not have mobile desks to make mini tables to play these board games.
4. There will be an active noise level, a hum in the room and you think silence is golden.
5. The teacher preparation time is initially increased to print the sets and laminate if necessary.

Once the materials are created or purchased and then organized in the most convenient way, and once the basic rules of the games are learned, children will be able to move the desks and get ready to play a fun game activity in no time . They want to participate, so they will move quickly. There is no better reinforcement process than multisensory activities. Using these types of printable games and activities will not only provide multisensory reinforcement, but will also provide great ways to make math fun and educational at the same time. You can’t go wrong.