Active Engagement During Math Time

Aloha friends!  I hope this post finds you happy, healthy and progressing well in your new school year.  I wanted to share how I have changed up my math time this year to really address all of my students needs.

Like many of you I have a classroom full of kids at all levels.  I have some who are receiving SPED services and a few that are on my radar for future services.  I also have my high level students who are done with everything in a few minutes and are ready for more.  Then I have my right on target kids who don't seem to ever get as much attention in a whole group setting.

Whole group instruction for math is almost laughable in my classroom. I am exhausted when I try to teach whole group.  I seem to repeat the same things over and over.  Know what I'm talking about?

Math rotations have helped to make my instruction much more meaningful and my students love it. 

I start my math time off with a mini lesson on what the standard/objective is for the day and I give the students an example of what we will be doing. (5 minutes)

Then I focus them on the Math Rotation board.

I always start out with my lowest group to make sure we have enough time to go over the concept and that they can have guided practice with me.  If they don't finish in our time (15-20 minutes)  they can finish at their seats during their Practice Book time.  Sometimes I keep them with me and they repeat the lesson with the next group.

I have my math wizards start off with their practice books.  We use Go Math and the practice books have  pages from the lesson that can be sent home for homework our used in class.

When they are finished with the practice book page they turn it in and work on a math enrichment project or fun math pages that they have in their desk.

Students at centers have a choice of 6 different buckets.  Each one is filled with lots of activities at varying levels.

Each tub also has a particular skill such as measurement, basic facts, place value, etc...  

I have them work alone at each center.  They have a simple menu that keeps them from repeating a center until they have gone to each one. Click {HERE} to download.

After center activities they head to computers.  Last year I received a grant from Reflex Math and it was wonderful!!  My kids loved it and they mastered their facts so quickly! One of the third grade teachers even told me how happy she was that so many students came in knowing their facts by heart.

My principal gave our 2nd grade team the funds to continue it this year.

Our district also has a subscription to IXL.  Once students earn a green light on Reflex they can go to IXL.  Most of my students never leave the Reflex site.

This system is the only way I can meet with each and every student to see how they are doing and what they need work on. Plus the students are on task and actively engaged the whole hour and 20 minutes!

Many people say they get bored teaching the same lesson 4 times.  When I teach whole group I seem to go over it a lot more than that.  By the time my wizards get to me I really don't have to do much more than a simple review since they have already done their practice book.

Everyone gets what they need and more.  I have enrichment for my wizards and remedial work for sweet and lows.  

Do you have rotations or centers in your classroom?  How is your system the same or different?  I am always looking for creative and new ideas!

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Math Rotations

Aloha everyone!  I have been wanting to share how my math rotations have been going this year.  This is the first time I have ever done them thanks to Debbie Diller and her fantastic book.

Math Work Stations: Independent Learning You Can Count On, K-2

I read the book this summer and was so inspired to try it out in my class.  I purged a lot of my math manipulatives and set up my math tubs.

Each container has a number and has a variety of activities that cover a certain skill.  I change them out each month to keep it interesting.

This last month the skills included, place value, working with tens, basic fact fluency, skip counting and number sense.

This year I also received a grant for the Reflex Math Program.  This is a fact fluency online program that many teachers had been raving about.  

I applied for their grant and received it for my class for a full year!  I was so excited, but each child needs to access the program at least 3x a week.  I only have 4 computers in my class and this program is not accessible on i Pads.  So this is how I set up my rotations.

All I do is change out the Computer, Meet With Teacher and Centers Tags.

4 times per week I have rotations so that each student can have time to get online.  So far it has been working out really well.

Our school uses the Go Math program.  I meet with my students on the carpet before we begin our rotations and share what we will be working on in our small groups.  I teach the same lesson to three different groups and differentiate for each of their needs.  

I meet with my struggling group first to make sure they have enough time to get through the lesson. The following groups are able to pick up new concepts quickly and usually have not problems.  My accelerated learners are able to get through the lesson with minimal help.  They work on enrichment activities and games if they complete their assignment before their time with me is up. I would say each group is around 15-20 minutes.

The students at Centers start out with Calendar Math before they choose their box of activities.

In their math journals they write down the date, the number of the day, 2 number sentences, base ten model, coins, expanded form and word form.

Most of my students are able to get through this very quickly.  I am so happy to see how much they have progressed.

Once they finish this they grab their rotation menu and head to a center of their choosing.

They cannot repeat a center until they have completed all of them.  It's an easy way to keep everyone on track and practicing all of their skills. Click on the picture if you would like a copy.

It took a lot of planning and prep, but I have to tell you it has all been worth it.  I am able to focus on the lessons and differentiate for each group.  My students really like it and they are progressing so well with the Reflex Math program.  I was actually alerted today that one of my students has achieved mastery and is now ready to move onto multiplication!

My only problem now is time!  I just can't get through my rotations in an hour.  I honestly need another half hour to really make this flow, but sometimes you just have take what you can get.

Do you have math rotations or follow a routine you really like?  I would love to hear about it.

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