Hey there, math champs! Have you ever stood in front of your class, beautifully explaining a concept, only to see a sea of blank stares, or, even trickier, a mix of confusion AND excitement? It can feel a little irrational, right? Welcome to the marvelous world of elementary math, where no two learners are ever quite the same! If you’ve found yourself wondering how to get every scholar not just keeping up, but truly engaged, you’re in the right place. Let’s talk about the magic of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and why it should be your math-teaching BFF.
First things first: our learners are as unique as their sneakers. Some prefer to see it, some prefer to touch it, and some prefer to talk it out (or dance it out). Oftentimes, what learners need to do is interact with materials and concepts in various ways to fully understand them and be able to apply them.
UDL is all about honoring that glorious learner variability. Whether you have a room full of scholars who love numbers, those who need a story or picture to make sense of numbers, scholars with disabilities, multilingual mathematicians, or all of the above, UDL says everyone deserves a seat at the math table.
UDL says: let’s stop expecting kids to squeeze into the same mold and instead build flexible learning experiences that embrace how wonderfully different they are. Learning isn’t linear…it’s variable!
Remember the last time you solved a real-world problem and felt that little thrill of triumph? Your scholars want that feeling, too. UDL helps you connect math to real life, to interests that make their eyes light up. Maybe that means using sports stats, designing dream playgrounds, or inventing new board games. UDL empowers you to make math irresistible. Because when scholars see themselves in the learning, they show up differently, more confidently, more curiously, and more completely. Factor in some fun!
A math block rooted in UDL might include:
Best of all? By busting down learning barriers (no more handouts that leave kids divided or directions that subtract from their confidence), everyone has the same shot at showing off their math superpowers. When scholars make sense of math and explain their thinking in ways that make sense to them, they’re more likely to retain what they've learned and apply it when it counts.
When scholars make sense of math and explain their thinking in ways that make sense to them, they’re more likely to retain what they've learned and apply it when it counts.
UDL is the secret sauce for making learning stick. How? By offering up math in a variety of ways: think models they can move, visuals they can see, and real-to-them stories they can relate to. We’re not just talking about memorizing “rules”; we’re building a deep, flexible understanding that solves for lasting success.
And when it’s time for kiddos to show what they’ve learned? UDL says, “Let’s see it your way!” Whether they write about it, draw it, or act it out, each scholar gets to shine with their unique strengths as long as they are meeting the firm goal.
If you’re feeling the spark and ready to multiply your teaching strategies (without the stress of dividing your time), join us in the newly released on-demand course, UDL in Mathematics Instruction K-5. We’ll explore simple, powerful ways to bring UDL magic to your mathematics classroom.
Curious? Inspired? Ready to sum up bigger wins for every scholar? Stay tuned… and let’s make math accessible and awesome, because when we work as a team, the possibilities are infinite.
Extra Credit: How many math puns did you find? Share with us, because in the world of UDL, everyone’s answer counts!