Keeping Kids Excited About Math During the February Slump: Elementary Math Ideas

By mid-February, math lessons often start to feel a little…less exciting, you could say. Holidays are over, spring break is still weeks away, and the fatigue sets in around this time for us every year.

Kids who were cruising in the fall are suddenly making careless mistakes. Concepts that used to click now cause frustration. Motivation fades for the kids, and let’s be honest, for us teachers and parents too. We might start wondering whether something has gone wrong when we all start feeling that late-winter fatigue with school, whether you’re in the classroom or home educating.

But the good news is: a few intentional shifts can make a huge difference in all of the attitudes (grownups included!) Here are a few elementary math ideas to bring the excitement back in the middle of that late-winter slump.

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Why Math Feels Harder Right Now: Elementary Math Ideas

I think part of it is that February is the point in the year when math becomes cumulative. In upper elementary, kids have learned so many new skills by February. The mental load is higher, and for the public school kiddos, the big test is looming which means it’s time for some heavier review.

I’ve seen this fatigue/frustration show up in the form of avoidance or shutdown, increased careless errors, rushing through their work, or the “I’m bad at math/I’m bored” comments popping up.

They can still do the math, but maybe it just doesn’t feel as new or manageable anymore. But this is the point where a few strategy changes can help.

Shift #1: Make Math Hands-On and Visible 

This last part of the year is often full of spiraling back in concepts already learned. I know for us, when kids are learning concepts for the first time, that usually includes hands-on tools and models. But once they’ve mastered the skill, we tend to move to paper and pencil practice only. 

Bringing math back into the physical, visible world can help boost engagement and rebuild understanding where it might have lapsed. 

Dust off those hands-on tools like:

• Place value blocks so kids can see the values instead of just memorizing them and model adding and subtracting with borrowing and regrouping

• Fraction models for comparing fractions, finding equivalent fractions, and adding and subtracting fractions

• Cuisenaire rods for building strip diagrams to represent and solve multi-step problems

Even older kids benefit from manipulatives when concepts get stale. Once the idea makes sense again visually, pair the models with the pencil and paper practice to mix things up. For example, try some interactive notebook activities for another way to approach skills in a different way!

Shift #2: Lower the Stakes (Without Lowering Expectations)

February math struggles are often more of a mental block than actual academic regression. Kids may worry about getting things “wrong,” which leads to rushing, freezing, or giving up altogether. One simple way to ease that pressure is to make math feel a little more temporary and fixable.

Try these ideas to keep math feeling low-stakes: 

• Dry-erase sleeves to slip worksheets or workbook pages into, and fine-point dry erase markers

• Erasable pens to mix things up in a fresh, fun way! Try having kids color-code their place values when working out problems, label geometric parts in different colors, or organize tables using these erasable gel pens.

  
  

When mistakes can be erased easily, kids take more risks. Plus, sometimes just switching up the writing medium and putting the pencils away for the day can really liven things up! 

Shift #3: Change the Format, Not the Skill

Sometimes it’s not what you’re teaching, it’s how it’s showing up. If math has become a daily worksheet battle, try changing the delivery while keeping the same goal.

Turn Practice Into a game

• Task Card Scoot Place task cards around the room. Kids solve one problem at each spot before moving on. This works especially well for review skills and keeps practice short and active.

• Beat Your Score (Not the Clock) 

  Give a small set of problems and have kids track how many they solve correctly, then try to improve accuracy next time. This keeps the focus on growth, not speed.

• Math Dice or Spinner Games 

  Roll dice or spin a spinner to generate numbers for practice. Kids might roll two numbers and decide which operation to use or which strategy makes sense.

• Error Detective 

  Show a worked-out problem with a mistake and let kids “catch” the error. This builds deep understanding and removes the pressure of producing an answer themselves.

• Choice Board

  Offer 2–3 practice options for the same skill. Kids love choice!

  
  

Try Movement-Based Math

Movement helps reset attention and lowers frustration, especially when kids feel stuck.

• Stand Up / Sit Down

  Read a math statement aloud. Kids stand if it’s true, sit if it’s false. Great for fact review!

• Number Line Walk

  Tape a number line on the floor and have kids physically jump forward or backward to model addition, subtraction, or even early fractions.

• Around-the-Room Solving

  Post problems on walls or doors. Kids walk to each one, solve it, and check before moving on. This works well for short bursts of focused practice.

• Math Charades

  Kids act out math concepts like “greater than,” “equal,” “regrouping,” or “array.” Silly, yes, but incredibly effective!

• Whiteboard Relay

  Place a whiteboard across the room. Kids walk or hop to write one step of a problem, then return.

  
  

Shift #4: Focus Back on One Skill at a Time

One of the biggest reasons kids burn out in math is they're faced with too much at once, especially when the review-heavy time of year rolls around. We’re talking about multiple operations, strategies, steps, all together.

In February, narrowing the focus as much as possible can be really helpful! Instead of a grab-bag of skills each day, try picking one or two to focus on with a hands-on activity first, a game, then a few low-stakes ways to practice (like using dry erase sleeves). 

Keeping Kids Motivated in Math

Despite what we’re often told, motivation doesn’t always come from rewards, speed, or pushing harder. It comes when kids feel capable, when they understand why something is important to practice, and being allowed to slow down if needed.

When kids feel successful, they’re far more willing to keep trying!

Remember, if math feels harder right now, it’s a reminder that kids are human, they’re tired, and maybe they’re just ready for a different approach. A few small shifts can bring confidence back surprisingly quickly, and often, that’s all it takes to help math feel doable and fun again!