There are benefits from replaying Objectives. Students must learn the concepts deeply, and replaying Objectives provides an opportunity to extend and connect students' mathematical understanding. When used as an instructional strategy, it can be a great way for students to explore and evaluate additional strategies, connect the visuals to symbolic notation, and communicate their learning using a math journal or exit ticket.
The Objectives students replay should be strategically selected. Start by reviewing student data and identifying areas where the student struggled or had low post-quiz scores throughout their ST Math Journey. Think about the areas where students may need to extend or connect their understanding and assign those Objectives.
Strategies for having students replay Objectives:
As students replay Objectives, our recommendation is to have them complete a math journal to communicate their learning.
1. Extend Understanding
It is important to ensure that the students learn the concepts deeply. When students complete their Journey, it is a great opportunity to stretch the students' thinking. Have students replay games and use the JiJi Choice Board to create something that helps illuminate the math within those games. They may make a tutorial, a supporting resource, a new level of the game, etc. The goal is for them to demonstrate the math they learned in the game and provide something that either teaches or supports others in practicing the concept.
2. Connect Understanding
Review student data and identify areas in which they might have struggled or had low post-quiz scores. Students can replay these Objectives by going into their history. As students are replaying these games, they can complete a math journal page explaining what they learned in the game and how that connects to the math they are learning during classroom instruction.
3. Additional Practice
Additional practice should be based on student performance on various assessments, teacher observation, or intervention needs. Students can replay Objectives to help bridge connections between the visual model/conceptual mathematics in the game and class lessons/symbolic connections, and to help support them in transferring understanding to the application of assessment questions.
4. Small Group Strategy Discussion
Students can replay specific Objectives as part of small group instruction. Pair students up and have them play together and discuss the strategies they are using. You can also have students play on their own and then come together as a small group to discuss the puzzles. Students could explore additional mathematical representations and make connections to other concepts using manipulatives or game mats. This is a great way to deepen understanding of the concepts, support students in communicating their mathematical thinking, and expand student perspectives through the exploration of other students’ strategies.