Math Workshop

I love, love, love Math Workshop! 

Last year I had a HUGE difference in math abilities with my students.  Huge might even be an understatement.  I had students working at every single ability level (like still getting down numbers to be able to do third grade math on their own).  I was struggling in September with how to make sure I could fully reach all of them and give them the time they needed with me to succeed while also making it fun.  After discussing with coworkers, googling, blog hopping, and ultimately creating bunch of it myself…I jumped in head first to a Math Workshop style.  It worked amazingly well! I must admit though…I would not have been able to do it without volunteers!  It just isn’t the same without volunteers.

Here’s how I do Math Workshop…

My station changer. The pocket
chart makes it quick and easy!

I ended up having 5 groups of levels that were very different in terms of abilities.  I would have rather had 4 groups instead of 5 for time, but it worked out.  I name each of the groups after a college – I think it’s never too early to expose them to higher education.  They get SO excited when they hear about their college out of the classroom…it’s adorable!

I put the color of the table they are at behind the college they are, so it reminds them, me, and my volunteers what station they should be on (and their group name).

I have attached an overview of what I did last year…

Credit to Rebecca Drake for her help! She’s amazing!

Click on the picture to download!

Here is a copy of my rotation rules that I post

Click on the picture to download

My students stay at the table (except when they meet with me).  They grab the bin for that station, pull out their book, or head to the computers- whatever it might be for that station for that day.  I write what each station is on the whiteboard.  I wish I had a picture to show you, but that stays up all year long and I just wipe and write at the end of the day for what the next day holds for them to do at each station.  I usually introduce the game on Monday and keep the same game for the entire week.

Here’s an example of a game we play…

Click on the picture on the top to download the directions and the picture on the bottom to download the game.

I ended up having all of my students but three passed as Advanced (not just proficient, but advanced!) at the end of the year…many of them were considered as proficient as an End of the Year Second Graders (I teach first graders!) and I had quite a few proficient as End of the Year 3^rd Graders or 4^th Graders.  My student who was heading to proficiency as a third grader at the beginning of the year was as Proficient as an End of the Year 5^th Grader…I know…amazing!