Why I use math mazes almost every day in my classroom
I use a math maze in my class almost every single day. But, it wasn’t always like that. I didn’t understand the value of mazes until I actually used them in my classroom. Initially, I made one maze for a colleague who thought it would be a good activity to try in class. Sure- no problem, I thought. Even though I thought mazes seemed a little strange, I would gladly help a friend out.
Then, she asked me to make another one.
After hearing her enthusiasm, I decided to try math mazes in my class. At first, I didn’t really see what the big deal was. However, it wasn’t too long until I overheard students talking about how much they loved doing mazes. I also started noticing that some students who typically didn’t complete much of anything independently, now would actually work on a maze. Before I knew it, I was pretty obsessed with math mazes.
Now that I was hooked, I continued building my collection of mazes. Eventually, we had enough mazes to use them as daily bell work. Mazes became my go-to for starting every class.
One thing I love about using mazes is that they have a low barrier to entry. Students can quickly get into the activity. Once it became our starting routine, every student knew to grab their maze and get working right when they walked in the door.
Not only are students getting more practice done with mazes, it’s also been a great way for me to quickly see how my students are doing. The maze path is a quick visual way to see what questions students are struggling with.
The more I used mazes in math class, the more advantages I saw to this simple switch.
The benefits of using mazes instead of a traditional worksheet
Here’s why I think replacing traditional worksheets with mazes is good for students AND teachers:
- Mazes look more like a game, which lowers students’ anxiety
- They’re easy to correct. You can see where students went wrong with a glance.
- Students can do mazes independently or with a partner while you take attendance, sign grade checks, etc.
- Mazes give you a chance to review prerequisite skills or reinforce current skills.
- They’re a consistent way to start class. Students know what to do and can get to work without waiting on directions.
Feedback Strategies with Mazes
There are multiple ways to give students feedback using mazes. My personal favorite is working with students one on one. They approach me or raise their hand when they finish the maze. We quickly review their maze and I let them know about mistakes. I can quickly see where they got off the path by comparing it to the answer key, so it’s much simpler for me than checking each answer.
If students don’t have any mistakes, then I stamp their paper and they move on to the next activity. The stamping can happen at my desk or as I walk around the room. When I collect mazes, I know who checked in with me and who didn’t.
This process gives me a great opportunity to see where the whole class is struggling, and where individuals are struggling. When I notice that everyone is getting the same question wrong, then I stop the class and we look at that problem together.
Student Stamper
Sometimes when I am occupied doing something else, I’ll have a student be the stamper. I don’t do this all the time, but occasionally I’ve been known to do this. This approach ensures that students get feedback on their progress, even if I’m not the one giving that feedback in that moment.
Post answer keys
Let’s be real about how the class period can go sometimes. Unexpected things happen like fire drills, new students, a phone call from the office, etc. There are occasions when I don’t get a chance to check mazes and I show the answer key to the whole class on the document camera. Students quickly check their work and can see where they got off the path, or what they completed correctly.
Also, when projecting the answer key you can give students the opportunity to talk about the maze with their partner. They can identify where they were making mistakes and explain why.
I know that some people post answer keys for students to check their own work. I haven’t done this very much, but it’s a possible strategy for feedback. The answer key could be in a folder or on a table and students can check their own answers. This works great when using mazes as a center or a fast finisher activity.
Homework
If you’re using mazes for homework, then you’ll probably want to have students place their mazes on their desks while they’re doing their bell work. This gives you a chance to circulate and stamp their mazes while letting them know about their mistakes. This also gives you an idea of where students are struggling. What a great formative assessment at the beginning of class!
What does this look like in the classroom?
Getting started with mazes is quite simple. They replace less engaging practice strategies. Here’s my process for using math mazes in my classroom:
Step 1: Choose Maze
I choose the mazes that match with the topic for the week. Some of them are prerequisite skills and some are the grade level content we’re studying that week.
Step 2: Print it and copy
I print all the mazes at the same time and then I copy them 2 mazes to a page. I try to do the whole week at one time. This helps to save time by batching this task.
Step 3: Set it in spot for student pick-up
We have a designated spot where students pick-up their mazes every day. I put the maze for the day in that spot and I put the mazes for the rest of the week in a magazine box until the day that I need them.
Step 4: Students pick it up and start working on it
Students know the expectation and they grab the maze as they come in the door. I love this because it signals to students that it’s time to start working. Most students are working before the bell even rings.
Step 5: Monitor progress
I monitor student progress by walking around the room and seeing what they’ve done. As they work, I ask them questions and give them pointers. I make sure to check in with students that are more likely to struggle by the time they’ve answered 3-4 questions. A quick glance at paths lets me know which students need a little help.
Step 6: Check answers
When students finish, they either raise their hand or come to my desk to review their answers. If students have a mistake or two, I tell them where they went wrong and give them a hint or ask a question. If they’re all correct, then I stamp their maze.
Step 7: Collect it and grade
When time is up (we usually spend 10-15 minutes on this part of class), I have a student collect the mazes. I can quickly thumb through them and see who isn’t getting their work checked and then talk to them about what’s happening.
One note about grading: we only use the mazes as a participation grade. I want students to feel like it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them. If you want to keep mazes motivating, I’d suggest not grading them based on correct and incorrect answers.
Tips for differentiating with mazes
One thing I love about mazes is how easy they are to adapt to various teaching situations and student needs. For example:
Break a maze up: Students do half one day and half another day. This strategy comes in handy when time is limited and you just want students to practice with a few problems.
Partners: Students can work with partners to talk through how they’re solving problems. This helps students practice their math talk and provides a level of support they may need. Note: I still ask students to turn in their own copy even when they work with a partner. I find it helps with individual accountability.
Modeling: It can be helpful to model the first question or two for students. Or, if a particular question is confusing several students, model that question by solving it together with the whole class.
Re-use mazes: Sometimes students need extra practice on a topic or cyclical review of a topic. Don’t worry about re-using a maze a month or two later after you first used it. Students don’t remember the path or answer for before. It’s a quick way to do cyclical review!
Try math mazes in your classroom
Have I convinced you to try one out? I hope so! To get you started let me tell you how to grab a free adding integers maze today. All you have to do is click this link and join the Maze of the Month Club. You’ll get an adding and subtracting integers maze as soon as you confirm your email address. Plus, you’ll get a free maze on middle school math concepts sent right to your inbox each month.
But be warned- math mazes can be addicting!
When you find you just can’t live without them, head on over to our full collection on TPT– we’ve got mazes for nearly all middle school math concepts you can think of.
Now, go ahead and try math mazes in your classroom! You’ll see more engagement and have a chance to give feedback to every student every day. You’ll find a maze for just about every topic. Plus, they can be used again and again. We can’t wait to hear how it goes for you!
Thanks so much for reading. Until next time!
