Guided Math

Last year I tried doing my math groups based on Debbie Diller's book, Math Stations. I have to admit, it was a lot of work, changing out my stations on a weekly, bi-weekly basis and having 10-12 stations going at once.

 

So this year, I've gone back to how I set up guided math in the past.

 

I have 4 groups and meet with each group daily. I have 4 activities (including meeting with me for the lesson). I've seen cute acronyms for the centers, but not any that will fit with my camping theme...so I racked my brain and came up with

the Math PATH!

 

I love it! It fits perfectly and my kids LOVE it.

 

I've packaged it up and have it available in my TpT store.

 

Here is a preview:

 

 

 

 

 How is your guided math going this year?



Math Station Freebie

Happy Fall, y'all!

Here is a graphing station I adapted from an activity I saved online. It does not have any credits on it, so I don't know who to give credit as the author! (if it is YOU, let me know!)

We just finished a week long graphing unit and this is going out into the math station world this week.

Enjoy!

Fact Family Math Station

We are working on fact families and I created this fun little game to use during our math stations. This seems to be a hard concept for the majority of my kids! If you'd like to get a copy, head over to my TpT store and check it out!



Math Station Freebie

Here is a freebie to use at a Calendar Math Station.

Click on the picture to download and leave a comment if you like!

Camping Work Station Kit on TpT

Yeah...I've finished my Camping Work Station kit and it's up on my TpT store. Check it out...





Math Station Freebie

Just letting you know I have my Camping Math Stations as a freebie now on TpT. Go by and grab them if you want 'em.

(and for those of you that grabbed my S'More Sorry note...get the updated one without the sorrry!! OOps.

~Please leave a comment or follow me~

Station "Signs"

Here is what I've come up with to post as my station signs. Since my stations are in order around the perimeter of my classroom and I have a camping theme, the kids will "hike" through the stations. I will laminate these boots and also have some plain ones to put up in a path all around the room. At first I thought on the wall, but I might tape them down to the floor to be more authentic!

Click here if you'd like to use!

Math Work Stations

Ch. 5-Adding and Subtracting

Well, this is one of my MAIN focuses in 1st grade. To get the kiddos to internalize this skill! This year I plan on using manipulatives a LOT more. Some things I really liked about this chapter:

• adding name cards
• using linking cubes for story mats... just choose the right color to include for the theme (pink for pigs, black for bats, etc.--although I do LOVE thematic manipulatives, this is easy and inexpensive)
• I also have to work on getting my I CAN and TALK cards together--Love, love, love those ideas
• differentiate the activities in each box by color dots or some other system
• I LOVED the board game station and using them for fact practice

I created these very simple fact sort cards--free if you'd like them:

Ch. 4-Numeracy

I read another Stenhouse book called Number Sense Routines and it is available to read online as well as Debbie's book! It has some very useful information.

I do a lot with my calendar routine, but will be adding more this year. Some years I've let my calendar routine slip...(it CAN get monotonous can't it) but it is Soooo important for the kiddos to get that repetition. I plan on doing more with the 100 chart this year too, as well as the section pieces of it (frames with a number given and student must fill in 10 less above, 10 more below, 1 more to right, 1 less to left, etc.)

Getting Ready for Math Stations

I am so excited about starting math work stations this year. I devoured this book (entire text online for a short time here). I love Debbie's philosophy and ideas. But, I have a LOT to do.

1. go through all my math materials and sort & purge
2. reorganize into bins or drawered carts (like that idea)
3. map out my units and work stations
4. fit it into 60 minutes (ahhh)

I have done guided math groups before, but I think this is more my style and I am going to model it after the way I do my literacy work stations--I think it will help the kids catch on quicker and know my expectations. :)

Here are some of my ideas for organizing my math station time. 

• 2 students per station
• Numbered Stations set up in order around perimeter of room (my literacy stations are "set up", but math stations drawers/tubs will be taken to the location)
• 2 stations per day, visit all 10 by end of week

Schedule: (5 min. buffer for moving, etc.)

• 10 minutes: Calendar and Daily Routine
• Money Mondays
• Tally Mark Tuesdays (number study)
• Word Problem Wednesdays
• Time Thursdays
• Fun Math Fridays (misc. skills)
• 10 minutes: whole class mini lesson
• 2 15-min. rotations (while I monitor or pull students to work with)
• 5 minute share time

In the past, I felt I was just teaching them how to do the worksheet for the day and not internalize the skills they needed to learn. Even when I did guided math, I felt rushed and like I didn't get to give some groups the time they needed. With this framework, my math stations are meaningful extensions of our core skills.

I feel with repetition, variety, and the enjoyment of "stations" my kids will catch on and think more mathematically.

How do I plan on grouping my students? I'm glad you asked.

I found a marvelous site with an assessment piece and directions for administering it and grouping students along a math continuum. Exactly what I was looking for. All materials are available with a minimal amount of gathering items (all listed in the materials list). This site has awesome games, practice ideas, and resources for everything.

I do NOT plan on having a set rotation schedule where I meet with groups like I've done in the past. After I assess my kids, I will mark where they are on the continuum. I plan on monitoring stations, conferring with students, and pulling groups up as needed to reteach, give additional support and/or challenge.

(Update) Yes, I will meet with my groups with this schedule:

Oh, would you like the link?? Here it is: http://www.k-5mathteachingresources.com/ECAM.html

 One last thought: I've used a BIN before (Burning Issues and Needs) where students write comments (I liked..., I didn't like..., I don't understand..., Would you help me with...) on post-its and stick on the poster. I have NOT used it with math, but think it will work very well. Students don't have to put name/# on it unless they are asking for more help (so I know who to help). We'll see how it goes.