Over the 14 years of teaching, my math instruction has changed drastically, partially due to different curricular and district demands, and partly due to figuring out what works best for math instruction. I now teach math using a workshop approach.
Math workshop allows me to meet my students where they are in their math understanding and take them to the next step. It is set up in 3 basic parts: mini lesson, independent practice and workshop groups.
Mini Lesson:
The mini lesson focuses on the topic of the day. This is your set curriculum that you are following. It might be modeling a new process, introducing a new concept, giving instructions for an Interactive Notebook entry, introducing a new game for reinforcement of a new skill, or clearing up a misconception that the entire class had. This should take about 10-15 minutes of your instruction time.
Here's a picture of a long division example that we worked through during a mini lesson. I followed up with students on this during workshop lessons.
Independent Practice:
This is where students work on the key skills for your unit and review from previously taught lessons. I organize this for students by using a "Must Do" and a "May Do" list for them. Students must do the items that are listed on the "Must Do" list. I usually keep these to about 3 tasks: problems from their math books, spiral review, daily word problem work. It's up to you what you wish to keep on this list. It's not a "busy-work" time, though. These assignments should be relevant to what the students are learning. One of my "Must Do" assignments will usually be called "workshop assignment." (I'll explain this in the small group work section.)
Workshop Groups:
This is where I meet with small, flexible groups to go over common needs. Many times I'll give them a 3 question quiz (they love sticky note quizzes!) to check understanding of the previous day's lesson. I'll group my students based on their answers. My groups change - students are not locked in to a particular group. Workshop group lessons last around 10-15 minutes, depending on what we are going over. We write on the table with dry erase markers (they love this!), I have them use manipulatives and explain their thinking aloud. These types of things are difficult to do with a whole class, as many classes don't have enough manipulatives and it's difficult to have all students explain what they are thinking to you. I add one assignment for their Must Do list from our workshop lesson. This gives me differentiated lessons that really make sense and apply directly to student learning. We usually end the lesson with a quick quiz (about 4 or 5 questions). This quiz either goes in the grade book, or helps me determine tomorrow's group. Students do their quizzes right on the table, and I record scores on a clipboard I keep just for math workshop. Super easy, no after school grading and immediate feedback. Great way to "WOW" your administration, too!
I've taught math through a workshop method with 28+ students, small classes (10 students), self-contained elementary classes, and departmentalized math classes. Works great, no matter what your setting. You just have to modify for what works best for you.
Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear any creative ways you get your students involved in math :-)
