This program profile is part of WestEd’s high-level study of five mathematics programs that build student and teacher confidence, enjoyment, and skill.

This profile presents findings from a survey of more than 120 teachers who used the Math for Love program, a suite of games and activities that help teachers spark students’ curiosity, encourage them to struggle with new mathematics concepts and skills, and build their mathematical understanding through playful explorations.

The Math for Love games and play-based activities can be integrated into regular classroom instruction, used after school with caregivers, or bundled into a grade-based K–5 summer program. They provide teachers and caregivers with written tools and workshops to help them implement a play-based approach to math learning.

Key Insights

  • By playing mathematics games, students increased their understanding of key math concepts and their problem-solving skills and increased their enjoyment of doing mathematics.
  • Students’ positive experiences and evidence of learning encouraged teachers to expand their instructional practices.

Further Reading

Read the Innovative Mathematics Programs brief for a summary profile of all five programs and access to the full profiles of the other programs.