From maths engagement to deep learning: primary school student interests as a gateway

From maths engagement to deep learning: primary school student interests as a gateway

2-3 minute read 

It’s tempting to think that student-interest problems are just “hooks” to get kids paying attention. But they’re much more powerful than that. When students see maths in their own worlds, they’re not just more engaged – they’re more likely to understand and remember.

For instance, if a child obsessed with dance uses ratios to mix stage lighting colours, or a footy fan uses averages to compare team scores, the maths sticks. Why? Because interest creates emotional connection, and emotions drive memory. 

What the research tells us

Recent work on contextualised learning shows that embedding maths in meaningful, interest-based situations improves both comprehension and retention (Thanheiser and Melhuish, 2023). It helps students connect abstract operations to real-world problem solving. 

Key points 

Using maths word problems on topics that students are already interested in helps them accurately comprehend the questions through familiar vocabulary, setting them up for success.   

References 

Thanheiser, E., Melhuish, K. (2023). Teaching routines and student-centered mathematics instruction: The essential role of conferring to understand student thinking and reasoning. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior. Volume 70, 2023, 101032. doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2023.101032 

Classroom tip

You may love the idea of including your students’ interests in worded maths questions each week, but your already heavy load as a teacher makes it hard. You need to find the time, the focus and the headspace to prepare them. And that’s where Matharoo can help. 

Matharoo produces fresh-weekly worded problem sheets for primary school-aged learners featuring questions drawn from last week’s current events, pop culture and sports news stories. They’re written specifically to be of interest to primary school-aged kids, ready-to-go. And written by qualified educators, Matharoo is curriculum-aligned so will be the perfect supplement to your existing lesson plan.  

Kids love Matharoo, teachers say it’s a weekly delight, and parents say they notice the difference in their kids’ attitudes to maths. Matharoo brings real-world relevance to maths, making it meaningful and fun for young learners.  

Watch as maths comes alive for your students. Join the Matharoo crew.