Building a Math Culture with Board Games: Standards for Mathematical Practice in Action

Looking to build a positive math culture at the start of the school year? In this episode, we dive into why board games are more than just fun—they’re strategic tools for reinforcing mathematical thinking and the process expectations that drive meaningful learning.

This summer, Yvette Lehman’s family has been on a board game marathon, and we’re sharing our favourite picks so far. We’ll discuss how these games build fluency, encourage strategic thinking, and support key student practices like selecting strategies, communicating, and reflecting. You’ll also hear ideas for how to bring board games into your math classroom in the first few weeks of school to foster collaboration and establish your culture early.

You’ll discover:

• Why board games are a natural fit for supporting math student practices
• How to use games to build community and culture in your classroom
• A list of our favourite board games in the math classroom 
• Tips for launching math games in the first few weeks of school
• How games can help students reason, problem-solve, and communicate their thinking

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Math coordinators and leaders – Ready to design your math improvement plan with guidance, support and using structure? Learn how to follow our 4 stage process. https://growyourmathprogram.com 

Looking to supplement your curriculum with problem based lessons and units? Make Math Moments Problem Based Lessons & Units 

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Are you wondering how to create K-12 math lesson plans that leave students so engaged they don’t want to stop exploring your math curriculum when the bell rings? In their podcast, Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr—founders of MakeMathMoments.com—share over 19 years of experience inspiring K-12 math students, teachers, and district leaders with effective math activities, engaging resources, and innovative math leadership strategies. Through a 6-step framework, they guide K-12 classroom teachers and district math coordinators on building a strong, balanced math program that grows student and teacher impact. Each week, gain fresh ideas, feedback, and practical strategies to feel more confident and motivate students to see the beauty in math. Start making math moments today by listening to Episode #139: "Making Math Moments From Day 1 to 180.