It is no secret that many students are not passionate about math. Students feel disconnected from what is taught in class, unsure of the benefits of math and reluctant to pursue careers in the field.

Math vocabulary alone isn’t a silver bullet—but research shows it’s linked to stronger academic achievement when paired with expert teaching practices.

In Gregory Smith’s 5th grade class in Tampa, Fla., two girls are beating the majority of their class in an online math-strategy game. That is remarkable given the original disparity between the two ...