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Making the Most of Math stations. Presented by Joan Kernan and Teresa Leahy. What are Math Work stations?. “Areas within the classroom where students work with a partner and use instructional materials to explore and expand their mathematical thinking.”
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Making the Most of Math stations Presented by Joan Kernan and Teresa Leahy
What are Math Work stations? • “Areas within the classroom where students work with a partner and use instructional materials to explore and expand their mathematical thinking.” • -From Math Work Stations: Independent Learning You Can Count On, K-2 by Debbie Diller
Work Stations: Measuring Length • Anchor Chart: Chart created by the teacher and students to support student as they talk about their math learning using appropriate math vocabulary. • What words could we put on an anchor chart about measuring length?
What would your students get out of this station? Discuss with your group
Why use Math Work Stations? • Independent practice • Highly engaging/motivating • Frees teacher to observe student thinking/take anecdotal notes • Meet with differentiated small groups
Why use Math Work Stations? • Encourage problem solving • Efficient use of time • Increase math talk and student communication • Differentiation
Story Problem Mats • Materials: • Seasonal mat: Forest, Heart, Snow Scene, Pond, Beach, etc. • Manipulative: sequins, punch outs, erasers, • Paper • Crayons • Pencil
Story Problem Mats • Students place the manipulatives on the mat and create a story problem about them.
Story Problem Mats • Four frogs are in the pond. Two frogs are outside of the pond. How many frogs in all?
Story Problem Mats • The student will share the story problem with their partner for them to solve.
Story Problem Mats • The student then records their picture and/or story problem on the paper provided.
Story Problem Mats • If appropriate, students can also write the number sentence (equation) that goes with the problem.
Math Tubbing: 9 week Rotation Model • Children rotate through 9 tubs in groups of two or three independently. • The teacher “floats” around the room to met, talk and question with each group. • In my classroom we did a rotation every Friday. • We spent approximately 25 minutes at the tubs and 20 minutes for math talk.
Other ways to Incorporate Math Stations • Start small – do stations once a week • Have permanent stations to re-enforce difficult concepts (change manipulatives to keep fresh) • Use multiple copies of station • Organize stations by concepts • Do seasonal stations
Materials and Organization • Start with spring/summer cleaning • Use Julie Morgenstern’s “Organizing From the Inside Out” (2004) • -Sort - Containerize • -Purge - Equalize • -Assign a Home
Set up a Classroom Math Corner • Place for station tubs • Math Manipulatives needed for first nine weeks • Paper, writing tools • Dry erase boards and markers
Place Value Station • Teen Match Up
Number Sense Station • Five Frame Fun
Your Role as Teacher • Teachers as a facilitator – Use guiding questions to access student thinking • Teacher as an observer – Circulate through classroom listening and taking notes on each student • Work with differentiated small groups
Differentiating Stations • Change numbers to match students’ needs (Bags of different numbers can be coded by colored stickers for different students.) • Focus on strategies or fluency according to students’ needs • Adapt station activities to focus on numbers 1-20 for those who need it. Ex. Cut hundreds chart with just 1-20 showing as visual reference • Encourage use of anchor charts
Keeping It Fresh • Vary materials to keep interest high • Have students create books (Ex. “Our Favorite Numbers” or “How Many?”) and keep them in centers for students to reread. Students can create numbers using manipulatives • Develop stations that combine geometry and measurement throughout the year. Ex. How many rectangles will cover your desk? Estimate and measure • Increase difficulty of puzzles
Kindergarten Considerations • Consider development when sequencing activities • Take time to teach kindergartners to form numerals • Focus much of work around “friendly” numbers 5 and 10 • Linking calendar activities with work stations provides opportunities for modeling and independent work • Connect concepts to everyday activities
Make and Take • Brainstorm with your table-mates ideas for work stations using your given strand.
Make and Take • Using your materials, design a math work station to take back to your classroom and use with your students. • Include: • “I Can” instructions • Materials • Activity • Teacher questions • Ideas for differentiation