Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting our Sustaining Engagement Until the MTC webinar, where we explored strategies to keep students motivated and engaged in the MTC preparation journey. During the session, we had some fantastic questions from teachers, and I wanted to take the opportunity to share my thoughts on two that really stood out.
“How do I Keep a ‘Gone Green’ Student Engaged Until June?”
A teacher asked about a student who has already Gone Green and achieved full marks (25) in both the Autumn and Spring OUMTC. The challenge now is how to keep them engaged and motivated until the official MTC in June.
Here are some ideas:
- Increase the challenge – Set higher tables for them to master, introducing more complex multiplication patterns or division challenges. Can they Go Green with the 13+ tables?
- Encourage leadership – Reward them as a TTRS Pro (maybe with a Pro badge😆), giving them responsibility as a role model. Many students respond well when given the chance to support their peers and we know just how important role models are to those that have low maths confidence.
- Custom Battle of the Bands – Set up a custom battle against other rock heroes or Gone Greeners from other year groups.
- Play against sporting celebrities – Direct them to our Times Tables Rock Stars YouTube channel, where they can compete against well-known athletes for an extra layer of fun and competition! Who doesn’t want to say they can beat Trent Alexander Arnold?!
Keeping these high-achieving students engaged ensures they remain enthusiastic about their learning while also inspiring others to push themselves further.
“How can we bring those less engaged students into the fold?”
Another teacher raised an important question about engaging children who usually aren’t as enthusiastic about maths.
Here’s my advice:
- Identify the barriers – Try to understand why some students are disengaged. Are they struggling with confidence? Do they find the competition intimidating? Identifying the root cause helps tailor your approach.
- Encourage collaborative learning – Our blog on collaborative learning offers some great insights. Allow engaged students to sit together and play a custom battle, while disengaged students can sit together and play in any game mode in a more relaxed setting.
Informal seating and a fun, stress-free atmosphere can help hesitant learners feel more comfortable.
- Make it personal – Get students invested in the game by letting them design a new avatar outfit or customise their experience. Our new Glow Up keypad takes the vibe to another level. Turn this feature on by heading to Settings & Admin> Early access features. Perhaps you could get those disengaged children to share their favourite designs.
- Talk about “failing forward” – Encourage a mindset where mistakes are seen as growth opportunities. Discuss the importance of failing confidently and learning from errors in a supportive environment. Normalise making mistakes on TTRS and discuss positive reactions to mistakes.
When students feel empowered and involved in their learning, engagement levels naturally rise.
What’s next? Stay tuned for our next webinar Closing the Gaps before the MTC, where we’ll give you some last minute ideas for MTC success.
Be sure you are signed up to our Officially Unofficial MTC so you can take part in the Summer OUTMC- the last mini mock MTC before the MTC in June. Head to the MTC Hub now to enrol and check the correct students are showing.
👇 Watch the full webinar here!