Sunday, January 8, 2012

Math Work Stations Journey






What is your math curriculum like?  Do you ever feel like there is never enough time spent learning/working on a concept before you need to move on so that you keep pace with the pacing charts provided from the powers-that-be?
I have and I do!  I feel it more and more each year and I struggle with it!  I don't know much about the Common Core Standards or how it will affect our profession and student learning.  What I do know, is that I have felt that I need to find a better way for students to practice what they have learned so that they will retain what they have learned and develop stronger strategies for problem solving.

I have read Debbie Diller's Math Work Stations, and I intend to create some of the activities she suggests, but I took a short cut this weekend and visited another website which has activities that are aligned with the Common Core!  I felt it might be easier for me to start with pre-aligned activities then add to it as I create/find more activities.
I spent  much of yesterday and today organizing games I found at k-5math teaching resources.  I found that each game or activity is easy to find materials for and  hopefully the students find them engaging!
So here is what I have so far for 'organization'.  BTW...if you are looking for ideas, support or motivation to get organized, you should join the Clutter-free Classroom Project.


I copied each activity onto cardstock, inserted it into a plastic sleeve and placed it into my 3-ring binder.

Having each activity/game in a sleeve will make it easier to just place it into one of my Math Work Stations
bins once I have taught the students how to use the materials.

My next goal is to use plastic tabs to divide the activities into the different standards.  Then I can just add to it as I find or create more activities to support student learning. 

I will keep you updated on student response! 

1 comment:

  1. Hi! I am your newest follower.
    I want to incorporate Math Work Stations into my Daily 5. I just haven't been brave enough to do it yet. Let us know how this works. : )
    Beth Ann
    Taming My Flock of Firsties
    bakteach16@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete