Long before I ever heard the words “Math Workshop,” I was already discovering how to teach math effectively in my class.
I was lucky enough to go to a college that had its own lab school—complete with observation rooms! I witnessed amazing teachers doing incredible things with their students, and I wanted that for my own class. Once I graduated, it was on! I worked tirelessly to replicate the student-centered classrooms that I had observed so many times before.
My first few years were more trial and error than success. But because I saw firsthand that this type of framework for learning was possible, I kept baby-stepping it, and before long, I felt really good about my own math classroom.
So today, I want to share with you some of my best tips on how to teach math and ensure your math workshop works!
You can do this!
A math workshop is just a fancy way of describing a specific framework used for structuring lessons.
The framework includes systems for teaching new content, providing for student practice, and offering ongoing assessment. The biggest difference between a traditional math classroom and a math workshop is just the amount of time that is spent in whole group teaching.
A math workshop has many benefits for students including:
A math workshop allows students to learn in a fun and safe environment. If you haven’t had the joy of seeing students learn through a math workshop, you can start today by taking small steps toward transforming your classroom.
Tip #1: Create a Routine and Stick with It
The math workshop framework includes new instruction, practice, and assessment.
Divide your instructional time into chunks that will allow you to accomplish all three phases. The majority of instructional time should be dedicated to differentiated learning, but spiraled review, whole group instruction, and reflection are also important components.
The biggest mistake teachers make when learning how to teach math through a workshop is not establishing a routine that the students can rely on.
It can be tempting to spend extra time on a whole group lesson or to cut into differentiated learning time to lecture about a problem that’s happening at recess. Being consistent is the number one key to a successful workshop.
Tip #2: Keep Your Mini Lesson MINI
Your whole group instruction is a very small portion of the math workshop.
Most of the actual learning will take place during the small group guided instruction that happens through centers and stations. Your mini lesson should serve to introduce new concepts and connect them to prior learning. Save the examples, challenges, and scaffolding for the part of the math workshop that focuses on more personalized teaching.
If your students create a math notebook resource (such as an interactive notebook), your whole group instruction is the perfect time to work on it. Resource notebooks are great for introducing new concepts in a concise way. Plus, they provide a helpful reference for students to revisit throughout the year.
Tip #3: Never Skip the Teacher Station
Your teacher station, small group, guided lesson, or whatever you call it, is the most important part of student learning.
No matter how tempting it is to skip it here and there, don’t! Your small group is where all the magic happens. Students learn best through your personalized instruction, and you’ll get to see all the light bulb moments during this time. Hold your small group time with your students as sacred time. Don’t let anything or anyone distract from it.
Over time, you’ll realize which students you need to meet with more often, which students only require a quick check-in, and which students are ripe for a challenge. There is a lot of flexibility with the students you meet with during your small group lessons.
The most important thing is that you are using this time to make the greatest instructional impact possible.
Tip #4: Centers Are the Perfect Way to Practice Math Skills
Make sure the stations you choose are expertly designed to practice the skills that you are introducing in whole group and teaching in small group.
The activities you choose should be “meats and potatoes” activities. Avoid station “desserts” and “snacks.”
It’s tempting to choose the cutest and most engaging activities, but you should weigh the outcome with the investment. Just because your students would LOVE that escape room doesn’t mean you should use it! And just because Valentine’s Day is rolling around doesn’t mean you should pull out that super cute heart monster activity you have. Expertly craft your centers to reinforce the skills you’re teaching. Helping your students have success will be much more meaningful than helping them have fun. If you can combine success and fun, then go for it!
Tip #5: Don’t Forget the Skills of Weeks Past
Use a warm-up time to practice skills that your class has already learned. Look for resources that are spiraled so that students revisit skills over and over. Long-term retention comes from repeated exposure. When you don’t have to spend time reteaching, you’ll accomplish much more from your regular class period!
Tip #6: Clone Yourself
In this day of readily available technology, it’s never been easier to replicate yourself. Screencastify should become your new best friend! It’s easy to record quick directions, instructions, and lessons. They’ll automatically save in your Google Drive and can be shared with all of your students with a click of a button.
Instead of using whole group time to show students how to complete a station activity, just record yourself giving the instructions. Then students can access the instructions as many times as they need to. You can use a digital whiteboard to complete sample problems, and you can even create digital answer keys so that students can self-assess.
When you’re able to replicate yourself, you are better able to dedicate yourself to your small groups of students that need your undivided attention.
Tip #7: Go on Autopilot
The first tip I shared was to establish a routine and stick with it.
You can put your class on autopilot using digital rotation schedules. Built-in timers and transitions will take the guesswork out of staying on schedule. Students love having a predictable day! When they know what’s expected of them, they’re much more likely to stay on task and accomplish everything.
By following these tips on how to teach math, you can create an engaging and effective math workshop that benefits all students. Implement these strategies to transform your classroom and help your students achieve greater success in math.
My first years of teaching were much more difficult because they were long before the invention of TpT and Pinterest. There were hardly any educational bloggers that I could learn from.
Nowadays, anything you need can be found on Pinterest or Teachers Pay Teachers. There are lots of free or very inexpensive options for helping you facilitate a math workshop.
When you’re looking for resources, choose substance over cuteness. Splurge on products that you know you can use for years to come. I used to be hesitant about spending money on resources, but I soon realized that I was much happier spending $2.00 than I was 2 hours!
My first few years of teaching highlighted the need for small group lesson materials, math center games, and technology-integrated activities. For the last few years, I have focused on helping teachers by providing resources that make implementing a math workshop much less stressful. When you have the materials you need, all of the “work” is taken out of the workshop model.
Check out this page to explore a wide variety of resources for facilitating a successful math workshop.
With a guest pass, you can choose any 3 resources for free! Options include:
Take advantage of this opportunity to find the perfect materials to enhance your math workshop and support your students’ learning.
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