Guided Math Made Easy
Last year, in an effort to meet the varying needs of our students, we decided to try teaching in differentiated math groups- also known as Guided Math. We absolutely LOVED it! If you are thinking about moving away from the “whole-group” model, I’d love to share a little about our easy-breezy guided math block.
I use a smartboard file to coordinate transitions between rounds.
Tunstall’s Teaching Tidbits.) I watch the students as they transition and choose someone that is super-calm and quiet to move the circles on the smartboard. It’s so simple, but it works! They transition very quickly, and we waste very little time.
Speaking of Reagan, she just posted some fantastic Guided Math Posters.
They are free in her TPT store! Go get ’em!
To begin the lesson, I usually meet with my kiddos on the front carpet. We typically use the smartboard for a mini-lesson/introduction that focuses on what we are learning that day. This is where I introduce the skill that we are focusing on and post this on our focus wall. This helps them to understand what the expectation is and take ownership of their learning.
After the teacher table, the group transitions to “paper practice.” This is where they complete some sort of activity independently. For us, that was usually something from our district-adopted curriculum or something in our math journal.
I just posted weeks 1-9 to my TPT store. You can click on the pic above to get week 1 FREE!
(Clipart from Krista Wallden and Graphics from the Pond)
We often use our ipads during this time as well! When the students finish their paper practice, they are able to work on their ipads. This could be a specific app that reviews skills or another activity like the QR scavenger hunt seen below.
Math Tubs are basically just math games. Math Tubs are great because the kids are practicing and reviewing skills with other students, and they love this! I like to add thematic touches to make things more interesting. The games in these tubs are from my Surfing into First packet and have a beach/summer theme. We used ocean animal or flip-flop erasers as our markers for the games!
If you’re a Texas teacher, you might also like my
TEKS “I Can” Learning Target Posters for your focus wall.
Thanks for stopping by!
Love this post! I started doing something very similar last year and also used Reagan Tunstall's blog as a great reference. I see in your photos that you use Everyday Math. I do, too! I found that the math boxes practice was waaaay too easy for my higher learners so I made an advanced version for those kiddos to do and they are free in my TPT store if you want to check them out!
Nicole O'Connor
Firstiefavorites.blogspot.com
What assessment do you use to put them into groups?
Thanks for your comment! We just switched to a new math curriculum this year, but I definitely agree with you! Too easy for advanced and too hard for everyone else. 😉
Hi Jennifer! Sorry for the delayed response. I just figured out how to add a reply button! 😉
We just switched to a new curriculum, so I'm not quite sure yet. In the past we used a spiraling curriculum, so we could go off of previous assessments, some specific pre-tests, and of course, teacher observation. Thanks!