Friday, June 8, 2012

Math Workshop

UPDATE: So, in trying to visit my room today and take pictures, I found a construction zone blocking my path. I'm going to try to go back next week, so that I can give a visual tour through what I do! :)

I also joined the Guided Math book study over at Primary Inspired. I hope you will join us through the course of June and July!



Something that I absolutely LOVED about my classroom this year was my math workshop. I had taken ideas from these two books:

 
Then I meshed them together along with Beth Newingham's workshop, and ended up with what I taught this year. I even incorporated I-Charts similar to Daily 5, so that reading and math would have the same expectations. I had so much fun with it, and my students really grew! After taking our post test, more than half of my class passed with A's or B's. I had 4 RTI kids who scored between 60-68%, which was huge for them considering it was a 40 QUESTION TEST! (Ugh so long). I felt like my students were really engaged this year and enjoyed math. Anytime we weren't doing math stations, you would here groans coming from all over the room! My plan for the next few weeks is to outline what I did, in hopes it could be helpful to others out there.

1. Materials and and Overview of Math Workshop
2. The three rotations: Team Meeting, Current Event, Math Stations
3. Mini-Lessons and Transitions
4. Launching Math Workshop

(I'm sure there is much more that I will add as I get myself organized!)


I'm also looking into reading this book this summer in hopes of linking math and reading beyond just behavior expectations. Has anyone read this?



I hope you will join me over the next  few weeks and send any helpful hints about things you have found that worked in your class!

11 comments:

Teach It Today said...

Hi Amanda! Your blog is adorable and I'm glad to be a follower. I just started a couple of months ago and am getting into it now that school is out. I would love to read more about your math since I'm going to do more math centers next year. I'm trying to organize it this summer and am having difficulty since we are going up to 28 kids next year. Looking forward to following you!

Heather at TeachItToday

Teach It Today said...

BTW - I am passing on the One Lovely Blog Award to you! Visit my site and find the post with the award. Follow the directions in the post and post on your blog. Then go out and find more blogs to give an award to as you visit them!

Heather at TeachItToday

Amanda said...

Wow thank you so much! You are too sweet! I will absolutely pass the award on. Good luck with 28 kids! I had 28 5th Graders when I first started teaching, and although that was a lot, they were quite independent. 28 2nd graders? I started the year with 26 and thought I was going to go nuts-o!

Owls and Lessons, Etc. said...

I'm planning on following along with y'all on the book study! I also teach 2nd grade :)

Haley
Following Optimism in 2nd Grade

Everything Math in Grades 3 and 4 said...

Found your blog while looking into the book study. I can't wait to here some of your ideas.

mysecondgradejournal.blogspot.com

Lisa R. said...

I just found your blog & I'm your newest follower! Love your blog & looking forward to reading more from you. :)

Lisa
Learning Is Something to Treasure

Kate @ EduKate and Inspire said...

I just bought the Guided Math book today and look forward to chatting about it in the book study!

Kate
EduKate and Inspire

nikki8 said...

Just started following your blog. Looking forward to your posts about how you do math workshop/guided math. I've been doing Beth Newingham's version and I love it, but I need to tweak it big time with my new grade level. Great blog!

Amanda said...

What grade level are you going into? Have you looked into Math Workstations by Debbie Diller yet? That has been an eyeopener into putting workstations in as one of my rotations! :)

Kelley Dolling said...

That Math Workstations book (Diller) is on the top of my to-read list for the summer. Just have to snag a copy. It's good to hear that it really helped ya . . . my fingers are crossed. So glad I found you today :)

Kelley Dolling
Teacher Idea Factory

nikki8 said...

I'm teaching 3rd now. No, I haven't looked at that yet. I'll check it out. Last year was my first year with 3rd, I had done 2 years with 4th and Beth's math workshop worked beautifully. New school and younger grade level=not as smooth of a workshop as I had. Thanks!