Diggin' Into the Math Workshop

 I'm linking up again this week with Laura from Where the Magic Happens. I was blown away by the number of people who visited my blog last week. Thank you so much. 

Today I'm diggin' into the way I organize my math block. My last post was about how I organize my classroom, and I admitted that I wasn't very organized, especially my desk.  I have to say though my math block is very organized.

Whole Class Instruction

Everyday we start our math block with a whole class lesson. Usually 5 to 10 minutes. I try to make this quick so the students aren't sitting on the carpet too long. 

Depending on the task for the day this lesson maybe a variety of different things:

• a mini lesson
• a game (my students love playing games with flash cards)
• an introduction to the math centres
• an introduction to a problem

Centres

Throughout the week I will have a variety of centres. My school board is moving towards recursive instruction. Instead of teaching full units, like patterning and then  not touching it for the rest of the year, we continue to give the students opportunities to practice the skills throughout the year.

Therefore, I will have one or two centres were students will practice a new topic, i.e. time. In the remaining centres students will revisit different topics, i.e. geometry, sorting and graphing, and money.

Problem Solving

Twice a week, I do a three part lesson:

Part 1: A mini lesson to set up the problem (5 min)

Part 2: Time to solve the problem (20-30 min)

Part 3: Reflect and Connect - students share the strategies they used to solve the problem and the other students give feedback.

I was involved with a program within my school board called CIL-M (Collaborative Inquiry in Learning in Mathematics). We worked with a variety of teachers from around our board, consultants, and principals to create open ended problems to try in our classroom. 

This was an eye opening experience for me. The right problem can reach all students. The wrong problem can be a disaster. :)

I plan to make two changes next year. 

1. I want to integrate technology into my centre time. I have created a time QR code game that my students absolutely loved. So I plan to make more. It allows them instant feedback to see if they are right or not.
   
   
   
2. GUIDED MATH, I am part of a book study this summer called "Guided Math" by Laney Sammons. It is an amazingly easy read. 

I'm excited because I'm already doing most of the things that Laney suggests but I can't wait to add the guided component to the math workshop as well.

Here are some products that are multi-strand math centres. Click on the pictures to see the item in my store.

These activities are great for centres.

I absolutely love these problem solving posters.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Don't forget to hop back over to Laura's Blog to continue through all of the posts.

Guided Math Book Study: Chapter 2

I have linked up with Amanda from The Primary Gal again, this week to bring you my thoughts on Chapter 2 of Laney Sammons book, "Guided Math".

Laney Sammons believes that there are 7 foundational principals of Guided Math. The two principals that struck me are: "All children can learn math." and "Learning at it's best is a social process"

"All children can learn math." 

This one is an eye opener for me. Not that I didn't think that all children could learn math. I always felt myself as a learner that I just couldn't do math...I didn't have the ability to do it...I just wasn't a math person. It's only recently as a teacher that I have begun to fully understand some math concepts. I feel that many parents and students fall back on the belief that their child's lack of achievement is based on inability. However, if we change that misconception and believe that all children can learn math, then think of all of the possibilities this opens up.

"Learning at its best is a social process."

I am a firm believer in the fact that students working together on the same idea enhances student learning. Every since I began my teaching career, I have felt passionately about that. My classroom is designed on that principal. All of the students desks are in groups. I have a variety of tables and spaces around the room where students can work together. I have to say my classroom is rarely quiet.

 Sense of Community

A new student would be able to see and feel a sense of community in my classroom. They would see students working together and showing respect towards all of their classmates. They would see students taking risks and knowing that mistakes are a part of learning. 

Classroom Arrangement

Laney, believes that the arrangement of the classroom is important for guided math to be effective. The arrangement of my classroom encourages socialization. It facilitates movement and allows for easy access of math manipulatives and materials.

Home Area

The students desks are in four groups of between 5 and 6 students. Each group is given a colour.

Large Group Meeting Area

I received a beautiful new carpet this year. This is our large group meeting space. This area is directly in front of our SMARTboard which we use every morning for our calendar activities as well as many other lessons.

Small Group Area

I have a guided reading table where I meet to conference with students. We call it our rainbow table, since it is shaped like a rainbow.

Math Workshop Area

The rest of my classroom is the math workshop area. Groups of students can work on a variety of centres throughout the room, either at the different colour groups, on the floor or at two round tables. 

Organization and Storage of Materials

I feel very fortunate, to have a wealth of math tools in my classroom. Many of the math tools I inherited when I moved into my classroom.  I came from a very resource poor school, so it was a wonderful surprise.

I have all of our math tools on a shelf at the front of the classroom where students can see them as well as access them easily. The organization of them was driving me insane last summer, so I took pictures of each of the math tools and created labels.

Numeracy Rich Environment

A student walking into my classroom would see a numeracy rich environment. They would see both student created and teacher created anchor charts and posters around the classroom. 

This student would see student created "I can" statements. I use a giant speech bubble for them to record their "I can" statements.

 I decided on a monster theme for my classroom this year, so many of my student reference posters are monster related.

Click HERE to check out more of my math poster themes:

I love the idea of building a numeracy rich environment, and I'm happy to see that I am already doing some of things that Laney suggests, but I would like to build a richer numeracy environment. There are many things that I would like to try next year.

Math Journals

I use an interactive reading journal. If we are taking the idea of Guided Reading and turning it into Guided Math why not take a reading journal and create a math journal or notebook instead?

Check out some of my fellow bloggers great interactive math notebooks.
Totally Sweet Math Centers by Tabitha
Diary of A Not So Wimpy Teacher
Primary Possibility - Stephany Dillon

Tabitha from Totally Sweet Math Centers by Tabitha was so super sweet, she gave me three samples of her Interactive Math Notebooks. Click on the links to try them out.
Addition and Subtraction Grade 1
Addition and Subtraction Grade 2
Place Value

Measuring Tools

I think Laney had a valuable point. Measuring tools need to be integrated! 

Math Related Children's Literature

This is something that I do, but I need to do more often. Reading math related children's books allows students to make mathematical connections

Check out this amazing list by Love2Learn2day full of math related children's literature organized by topic!

Math Books by Student Authors

Umm...brilliant idea! We make our own books all the time. Never thought of making our own math books!

Don't forget to enter the rafflecopter, for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate!!!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up

100 Minutes Book Study: Chapter 2

Well I'm still running behind...but I'm getting closer to being caught up.

Chapter 2: The Building Blocks.

Interesting name for the chapter but it totally makes sense. You need all of the blocks to build a house, without all the pieces your house will have holes. I think the same could be said for reading and writing, if students aren't taught "all the pieces" then they are going to have holes in their foundation. The same can be said for an literacy block. If you want students to be independent you need to build a strong foundation. You need to start small and teach them what the expectations are.

The Building Blocks 
I think in the past, whole class instruction has been given a bad name. This is understandable. How can you reach all 20 odd students with the same lesson? I sometimes look around at my students during a lesson and wish that there was a a way to engage each of my students in the lesson. There are always one or two whom I know have no clue about what is being presented. 

Small-Group Instruction is always the goal. We all know that this is prime learning time. Guided reading and conferencing are so important for students to progress in the literacy.

Independent Activities: students need to be able to work independently for Small-Group instruction to be successful. 

All of this needs to be built up slowly. Lisa suggests beginning with: 

• Reading Time (Lesson)
• Independent Reading 
• Writing Time (Lesson)
• Independent Writing

This is actually very similar to how I set up my literacy block. We have Reader's Workshop for approx. 45 minutes and then Writer's Workshop for an addition 45 minutes. I really like this set up. I find it gives me time to work with groups and conference with individual students. I find that my students have to be very accountable for their own actions. It took us a while to build up to that sense of independence.

I have the beginning stages set up in my classroom, so it seems logical that I can take the next steps and implement AWARD Time (reading and writing independent time)

So I'm still wondering how effective the writing lesson will be  if there isn't any follow through?

Is there choice in the different AWARD time activities?

If technology is to be integrated, why is there a separate "Tech Time."

I'm sure these answers will become more apparent as I read. I'm really interested to try out this model in my classroom. I'm not sure if the last few weeks of school is the ideal time to try something new. I'll let you know if I end up taking the leap before the 27th of June.

100 Minutes: Chapter 1

 I am involved with two book studies this summer. However, it's not quite summer break for me yet. We go until the 27th of June!!!! I'm so jealous of those teachers that had their last day of school on Friday. The first book study is hosted by Amanda from The Primary Gal. We are reading "Guided Math" by Lanney Simmons. This book study is hosted by Beth from Thinking of Teaching. We are reading "100 Minutes: Making Every Minute Count in the Literacy Block." by Lisa Donohue. I am about three chapters behind so over the next couple of days I plan to push myself to get caught up. Ahhhhhhh! I never get behind. 

I chose to participate in this book study because I'm always looking at ways to improve my literacy block. I have experimented with the Daily Five and somethings worked really well; other things not so much. So this book kind of excited me. I'm hoping it will give me a little bit of a spin on the Daily Five so it will work in my classroom. 

I like how Lisa has three main components: explicit teaching, guided learning and independent work. I have found over the last couple of years that I have moved away from whole group instruction, yet both of the book studies that I am in are suggesting that whole group instruction is key.

I really liked how Lisa believes that students need choice in their learning. This is key in my philosophy of education. I participated in a series of workshops based on play based learning and inquiry in the primary grades. We observed that students were more interested and engaged in writing when they had an opportunity to choose their activities.

I also believe that technology shouldn't be taught separately. I am the computer contact for our school and I'm always looking for ways to integrate technology, especially iPads into my classroom.

Although, I'm just getting started on this book I do have some questions. 

• Lisa believes that choice is important. However, her framework is set up so that the students complete two activities. If the students want to move on to the next activity, do they have to wait until the half way point?
• Are there a variety of activities for students to choose from, for example, in independent reading?
• How do you monitor students during the independent work period?
• Does Lisa allow students time to share what they were working on? My students love to share and it has been an amazing spring board for other students.

I'm wondering about the design of the program. The writing lesson is taught at the end of the literacy block. So I'm concerned that students might not remember the lesson if there isn't any consolidation until the next day.

If you are reading along in the book study feel free to add your thoughts to the link up or comment below. 

June Currently

1 am super excited to be linking up with Farley from "Oh Boy Fourth Grade"

I'm finally starting to feel like I'm getting this blogging things figured out. I have been following Farley for a while now and I love to check out who has linked up. This is my first time linking up. So here we go!

Listening: I'm currently listening to two of my three cats purring in my ear. While listening to the birds chirp happily since my husband just filled the feeder. I'm enjoying a couple of quiet minutes before heading to day care to pick up my girls. Does anyone else do this? I used to feel bad, that I left them at day care a little longer. But I've realized that if I give myself a little down time before picking them up, I have a lot more energy and patience for them.
Loving: I'm loving the heat. I live in Southwestern Ontario and we are finally getting a bit of a heat wave. It's about 30 degrees Celsius right now. After a winter of minus 40 degree days, I'm ready for some heat and some sun. 
Thinking: I should really be working on report cards. We are still in school until the 27th of June. But those pesky report cards are due fairly soon. I should work on them but I'd rather not. Oh the joy of being a procrastinator. :)
Wanting: I am wanting summer vacation to come soon! We've had a long school year. My school was under construction last summer and was suppose to be done by September but of course it wasn't. We didn't have a gym until  February and it was a loooooong winter.
Needing: I'm needing to take some time for myself. We have been so busy lately with dance, tennis, soccer, violin, birthday parties and dance recitals that I feel like I never stop. I'm looking forward to dance being done so that at least one night won't be so busy.
Summer Bucket List:  1. I am looking forward to spending sometime at the cottage. My girls and I usually go up for a couple of weeks while the poor hubby works (he joins us on the weekend). It's great to have family to help with the girls, especially their favourite Aunt Kitty (my sister Caileigh). 2. Poor little Anna has been trying to ride her bike without training wheels, but we never seem to have the time. My goal is to have riding by the end of the summer. Anyone have any tricks or tips? 3. We love the beach! I can't wait to spend sometime there!
Thanks for stopping by!

Summer Bloggin' ~ Monday Meet Up

I am linking up with the Teaching Tribune for their Monday Meet Up! 

I thought this was a brilliant idea. This is how it works... I get to introduce you to one of my blogging friends.  I had the pleasure to review one of her products a couple of months back in the "Trade and Grade" hosted by Amanda from The Primary Gal. So when she asked me to be her partner I was beyond excited!

My partner is Kim from Splish, Splash, Ms. Landers Class. I love her products, and even better my students love her products. She is such a sweet person and she is super easy to work with. So without further ado, let me introduce you to 

Kim Landers.

Thanks for stopping by! Click HERE to head back over to The Teaching Tribune and meet up with some more amazing teacher bloggers.

Diggin' Into Next Year ~ Organization

I am so excited to be linking up with over 50 bloggers and Laura from Where the Magic Happens to bring you the Diggin' Into Next Year Blog Hop all summer long! Each week we will bring you a post about a different topic. Check out what topics are coming up in June!

So here we go! This week's blog post is all about ORGANIZATION! GAH! I probably won't win any awards for my organization skills. I'm more a "piler than a filer". I am not one of those teachers that has a clean desk. I am way to embarrassed to show you what my desk looks like at this point in the year. However, there are some things that I am great at organizing!

Filing

I know I just said that I wasn't much of a filer, but I actually do have a system for filing when I end up doing it. One of my brilliant teaching partners showed me her strategy. Instead of organizing by subject. I put all of my files in alphabetical order. I then have cardboard dividers that stick up that tell me which letters are in each area.    

Not overly pretty, but actually very effective.

Toys

Last summer I decided that I needed to do something to organize my toys, so I took pictures of them and  created labels. I put the labels on the bins as well as on the shelf where they belong.

I also love these shelves. They take up a lot of room. But I love how I can push them together so all of the toys are out of sight.

Books

Last year, I decided that I need to do something about the organization of my class library. I can't even remember how it used to be organized, all I know is that my students never put the books back in the correct place.

So I spent a week putting stickers on all of my books, and more clearly labelled all of the bins. It makes it so much easier for the students and me to keep our classroom library organized.

Desk Bins

This is by far my favourite organizational tool, and it's not even for me! Each students as a long white bin in their desk. These bins make it super easy for students to find what they are looking for. We also almost never lose pencils, or glue sticks.

 Then the bins slide easily into the students' desks.

So, my biggest change for next year is to organize my desk! Enough of the piling, I need to be a filer! Wishful thinking? We'll see! Or maybe it's time to say goodbye to the desk since I never actually sit at my desk. However if I get rid of my desk, where will I pile my stuff? hmmm.... Something to think about. 

Don't forget to stop by my friends' pages. You can access the link up through Where the Magic Happens.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have found some great ideas while making your way through the hop!