Math

Spotlight Series Part 3: Math

I hope everyone is staying cool now that is officially summer! (even though in Bama its been "summer" since about March) I think we have *maybe* two weeks of Spring. My dad always says we have 4 seasons: almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas. Haha :) Anyway onto math...

We actually have math in the afternoon. We have whole group from 11:30-12:00 and then centers from 1:15-1:45 (we have PE and specials in between). I like how our math is broken into two parts. The kiddos are focused during the 30 minute whole group and then they go do something different and come back ready for workstations. 

11:30-12:00 Whole Group

We get back from lunch at 11:30 and the students immediately put up lunch boxes and go straight to their spot on the carpet. We have enVision math at our school (the jury's still out for me). We watch the instructional video on the Promethean board and I stop and teach along the way. We do a lot of turn and talks and mirror (from the whole-brain method). Then I put up their practice sheet under the document camera to go over together. We choral read the directions and we talk about the problems and what we think they are asking us to do. This gives them time to clarify any questions or concerns and prepares them to work independently! Then I dismiss them back to their seats to complete the sheet on their own. If they do not finish before we go to PE, then they have to finish before they can go to workstations. Having them work independently allows me to pull a few strugglers to the back table or walk around and monitor each student. I loved this part of math and plan to continue this into next year.

1:15-1:45 Math Workstations

This year I used the Debbie Diller method for math workstations. You can learn more about that here. I partnered my students off using different methods (ability level, boy/girl, high/low) I changed their partners every two weeks or so. I had nine "tubs" total because I had 18 kids with two at each tub each rotation. I use a pocket chart to show the students which tub they are going to. I always had a BUMP game in my one of my tubs, I love it (addition practice...never gets old) and so do my kiddos!  There are many different varieties of this game but I always used a SunnyDays BUMP game. I usually had a place value tub and towards the end of the year a money tub. Two of the tubs ALWAYS had our concept skill for the topic we were focusing on during whole group. My other tub activities were usually holiday or seasonal themed that I grabbed on TPT so the skills varied. I wanted my students to be doing different skills at every station to keep them fresh in their brains. I am blessed with amazing and wonderful technology in my classroom. We have 3 iMac computers and 2 iPads. Those are my other 3 "tubs". The kiddos do our topic skill on IXL using the computers. Then I have 2 groups on the iPads playing any game in the "Math" folder.  If any group finishes their tub early they have a few choices. They can do tangram picture cards, whiteboard addition practice, or play with a deck of cards. Most of the time only 1 group finished early and they knew to quietly select their choice from our manipulatives shelf. During this time I was either pulling kids to the back table for intervention or going around to each group and sitting with them and watching them play the game or complete the activity. I loved watching their brains work during this time! Sometimes it was more beneficial than pulling kids to the back. Not to mention I got to hear hilarious conversations :) We did two rotations a day lasting about 12 minutes each (transitions usually took about three minutes to clean up and get out the new tubs).

I liked this part of math okay, but I was never in love with it. I REALLY want "the sisters" to finish that Daily 5 math book that I keep hearing rumors about!!! I have seen some ideas on Pinterest and TPT but I am just not sure. I am thinking about making something up and doing my own thing but that would take some serious time and planning. I ADORE how my reading block looks (Daily5) and would really like for my math block to be the same. I can't wait to read how some of you are doing math centers. I need some ideas :)