How can I use any game for a Puzzle Talk?

We have several games ready to go in our Puzzle Talk platform, but you might want to use a game for math discourse that isn't there just yet. Below you'll find suggestions for facilitating your discussion, locating games in the educator console, and strategies for selecting a game to meet the needs of your students.

Contents:

Facilitating the Puzzle Talk

Locating Games - Curriculum Page

Locating Games - Data Columns

Use our Problem Solving Process resources, engagement strategies, and facilitation tips to guide math discourse using the puzzle. Incorporate tools such as whiteboard and marker, math maths, game mats, or other manipulatives so students can show their thinking.

Remember to pause the animation and use the annotation tools to help students notice the details of the puzzle and create connections.

Try starting with a puzzle from Level 1 and increase the difficulty based on student understanding revealed during the conversation. Access a planning document and all our Puzzle Talk resources here.

By ST Math Journey:

From Curriculum, select:

All Learning Objectives
Expand grade
Select Objective
Select the Games tab
Scroll to view games
Select the desired level

By Standards:

From Curriculum, select:

All Learning Objectives
Organize by Standards
Select grade
Expand standards domain
Select Objective
Select the Games tab
Scroll to view games
Select the desired level

	Student Alerts When students have an alert, a Puzzle Talk is a great way to provide support. Click on an alert then into the game link to open it up.

	High Current Level Tries - Last Played Objective or Game Identify students with a high number of tries using the Current Level Tries column. Locate the Last Played objective or game columns that connect with this high number of tries. Click on the objective or game you would like to use in these columns. If you click an objective, it will take you to the overview page. Select the Games tab to access specific games and levels within the objective.

	Group Students using Last Played Objective or Game Sometimes it is helpful to carry out a Puzzle Talk in a small group consisting of students playing similar games. Sorting the Last Played columns will alphabetize the games to easily see who is working on similar games and levels. Locate the Last Played objective or game columns. Sort them by clicking on the heading. Click on the game you would like to use in the Last Played game column.