How could we teach subtraction if we couldn't talk about differences?

Heh.

But here's the real deal. Students learn in different ways. Some of them look at a formula and it's memorized. Others need to practice applying it no fewer than a million times before it sinks in. The solution? Finding various methods of teaching your material so that it's grasped by the majority of your students.

Differentiating your instruction can be done in loads of ways (and you can check out some general approaches right here), and some of them may look like they'll work better with certain age groups or math levels. But hey, you're the numbers guru, and we have faith in you to apply these formulas in your classroom to get the right answer you're looking for. (Which is, of course, your students getting the right answer.)

Before we dive in to the tips, don't forget to check out Math Shack and Let's Conquer Math, our gamified math products that help students of all levels get to where they need to be.

1. Be manipulative.

No, wait. Don't be manipulative—use manipulatives. Some students need tangible, visual representations of mathematical concepts. You can find tons of math manipulatives through eNasco, Teacher Created Resources, Didax, and Hand2Mind. We're talking everything from Tangrams, Pentominoes, and dice to 3D geometric solids, fraction models, and abaci.

And lest you think manipulatives are only for the younger set, check out these Algebra Tiles and this Clever Catch Trigonometry Ball. Plus, don't forget that Cuisenaire Rods are always useful for showing relationships, building models, and just being pretty darned fun to look at and touch.

2. B-eManipulative.

We just want to point out that you can also find plenty of math manipulatives of the virtual variety (that's right, e-Manipulatives) for free online. While they may not appeal to learners who need a more tactile experience, virtual manipulatives still allow students to work with visual representations of math concepts and see math in action. This format is also a good bet for students who prefer to take in content via apps, software, and digital devices.

You can find some examples of eManipulatives at Math Playground, The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Illuminations page (choose "Interactives" from the menu bar), and by using McGraw Hill's Virtual Manipulatives tool.

Also, Chris Beyerle has collected more than 30 math apps for high school students in one place on his EdShelf page. Thanks, Chris.

3. Read math-related literature.

There are some excellent texts—both fiction and non-fiction—that incorporate math in a way your less mathletic students may appreciate. Blue Balliet's novels Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, The Calder Game, and Pieces and Players are perfect for grades 4 or 5 and up, while The Calculus Diaries, A Mathematician's Lament, and Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea can provide great numerical fodder for the high school set. Plus, they're all an instant babe or hunk magnet, right?

Back down the age ladder, young learners may enjoy Mitsumasa Anno's books or other fun titles like The Grapes of Math or Math Curse. Just look at all those clever titles.

The point is: there are a lot of books related to math that could get your more literary learners in the door.

4. Create a math newsletter.

Yes, a newsletter. And you can let students handle the aspects that play to their strengths. You can include everything from math challenges and mind benders to class news, logic problems, and biographies of famous mathematicians.

5. Find the math in real life.

Highlight examples of math in activities that don't necessarily scream it: dance, nature, cooking, music. As it says on the Annenberg Learner Math in Daily Life page, "human beings didn't invent math concepts; we discovered them."

That's why you can find mathematical principles everywhere—in the ratios between ingredients in recipes; in nature in the form of Fibonacci sequences and the Golden Ratio; in musical rhythms, meters, melodies, and the genius of Beethoven. Everywhere. Even in dance. Set your students the task of finding the math in their favorite activities and see what they come up with on their own.

6. For the older set: let them watch TV.

If your students are old enough to watch the television show NUMB3RS, why not help them delve into the very real math concepts explored in the show? There's even a book to help you do it: The Numbers Behind NUMB3RS. Can't get much more baller (baller-er? This isn't an English lesson) than that.

7. Sports!

Introduce the math behind sports stats and encourage your class's athletes to record their own statistics. Not the sporty type? No problem. They can watch a sporting event of any kind and develop some stats of their own.

What do you mean "sports stats" have nothing to do with what you're supposed to be covering in class this month? Okay. But somewhere along the line (percentages, decimals, probability, graphing, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, order of operations), it will be relevant. So use it.

Basically, anything you can do to get kids more interested and engaged will pay dividends in terms of class management and information retention. Oh, and creating a meaningful educational experience with your students. And you can't get a better sum than that.