Use Incidental Learning to Make Math Facts Sticky

Incidental learning occurs when your students engage with an activity for the fun of it and just happen to learn something along the way. 

Contrast incidental learning with intentional learning from the point of view of the student. A student using a spaced repetition technique with a deck of flashcards is directly working toward a learning goal. 

Students playing Pieces of Eight may not be aware of working toward a learning goal, however, as part of the game, they discover and record all the number bonds that make up eight. 

Benefits of Incidental Learning

Incidental learning, also known as play, can have advantages over more formal settings. Many students worry about their performance, behavior, or achievement level in typical school settings. They will benefit from the lower expectations and  relaxed atmosphere of playing math.

Incidental learning activities:

• engage students’ minds, so they are more likely to stay focused.
• tend to be low risk so students can relax and participate.
• hold students’ attention for sustained periods of time.
• connect with students’ emotions so the experience is more meaningful and important.
• make math facts more interesting when used in context of personal interests or hobbies. 
• rely on intrinsic motivation to keep students attention.

Do You Play Math with Your Students?

Plenty of math activities can be presented in a lighthearted, playful way. Whether you invite parents into your classroom every Friday to play games with groups of students, or simply introduce mathematical concepts in fanciful ways, students enjoy fun, out of the ordinary presentations. 

When children have fun, their barriers to learning come down, they open up, their brains light up, and they engage their entire selves in the activity. This is when you can build relationships with your students, help them become more confident in their abilities, and reduce the stress that often accompanies learning math.