learning stations Archives - Loving Math

How to Get Students to Use Effective Math Talk During Groups

Addys Denis — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 20:23:26 +0000

use math talk during groups

Using Effective Math Talk During Small Groups

Have you ever been to one of those Professional Development sessions where they show a video of students discussing a math topic?

And you look at the teacher friend next to you with that look that says “yeah right, my kids will never be able to communicate like that” or “that’s not a real classroom with kids like mine.”

The truth is those kids in the video were not always like that. They had to be taught to talk to each other that way or ask the types of questions that make teachers’ hearts leap with joy.

But how?

By modeling over and over again, and practicing until you are completely satisfied.

But what exactly is Math Talk?

Math talk mean to share, analyze and make sense of math. Students might discuss their strategies for solving a problem, explaining not only what they did but also the reasoning behind their work. They can also make observations, pose questions and express uncertainties.

Why is Math Talk important?

It is so important that math talks are listed as one of the standards for mathematical practice in the Common Core Math Standards. This is what it says:

Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

Mathematically proficient students understand and use stated assumptions, definitions, and previously established results in constructing arguments. They make conjectures and build a logical progression of statements to explore the truth of their conjectures. They are able to analyze situations by breaking them into cases, and can recognize and use counterexamples. They justify their conclusions, communicate them to others, and respond to the arguments of others. They reason inductively about data, making plausible arguments that take into account the context from which the data arose.

Mathematically proficient students are also able to compare the effectiveness of two plausible arguments, distinguish correct logic or reasoning from that which is flawed, and—if there is a flaw in an argument—explain what it is.

Questions that promote Mathematical Discourse during Math Talks:

probing questions

Can you tell us where you got that?
How did you figure that out?
What was the first thing your eyes saw, or your brain did?

Connecting questions (help students respond to each other’s thinking)

Who did it another way?
What questions do you have for them?
Do you agree or disagree? Why?

To download these FREE accountable talk table tents, click here

The post How to Get Students to Use Effective Math Talk During Groups appeared first on Loving Math.

Tips for Successful Math Centers

Loving Math in Elementary School — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 13:27:00 +0000

We all want to have successful math centers.

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard teachers say:

“I don’t do math centers. Too much planning.”

“Who has time to do this everyday?”

“My kids can’t handle math centers.”

“Centers are too noisy.”

What if I told you that you can run successful centers everyday with minor planning and that your kids will behave?

What if I told you you can get kids to learn more during math centers than by doing 60 minute whole group lessons?

Here are some tips to get you started doing math centers successfully:

Start the first day of school

Seriously.

Don’t delay it. Kids need to know its part of their routine.

Practice Practice Practice

Practice until you are satisfied.

Rehearse the way you want students to work in each station.

Rehearse the way you want them to transition.

Rehearse the way you want them to talk to each other.

Rehearse what to do if 1) they need materials 2) they need assistance 3) they need the bathroom 4) they finish early.

Rehearse how to set up and clean up. Who gets the materials? Who puts them away? Where do they go?

Rehearse the jobs of each team member.

Rehearse until you are satisfied.

Trust me! This works. Do not skip this step. Spend a week or two or three rehearsing exactly how you want it to look and stop them the second they do it differently than your expectations. They will do it and they will do it correctly.

I have seen teachers spend an entire period rehearsing transitions. It might seen like such a waste of time but it is so worth it when they finally get it and then you can spend an entire year with flawless transitions and plenty of oohs and aahs from administrators when you get observed. Plus it saves your sanity. During this rehearsal period DO NOT sit with a small group. Walk around making sure students are following the rules and expectations. When you feel centers look and sound to your satisfaction, start running your teacher small group.

Collaboration During Math Stations

Organize your materials

This might seem overwhelming at first but once you have your materials organized in folders, baskets, boxes, or whichever method you choose, you and your students can enjoy the benefits. Label everything and make the students clean up after each use.

I like to keep math centers similar. Such as a game center, a technology center, a task card or worksheet center, and the teacher small group center. This way, it is easy to switch out the content depending on the skill we are learning or need to review but the expectation and routines of that center stay intact.

Make it fun

Math Centers

Math stations should be fun. Students should look forward to math centers. The activities you choose should be rigorous but also fun for them and allow then to collaborate.

Yes, they should be talking. This is the part that teachers are terrified of. The noise! But this is why you practice, Practice noise levels and respectful communications. This needs to be modeled over and over until they nail it.

I hope these tips were helpful. Let me know of you do math centers and how you make them successful.

I would love to hear from you.

Some math center ideas you might like:

Long Division Word Problems Game – Interpreting Remainders

Long Division Game – TRASHKETBALL

5th Grade Powers of Ten Digital Math Centers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-cDGaCLuo0

The post Tips for Successful Math Centers appeared first on Loving Math.

The struggle with math word problems

Loving Math in Elementary School — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 17:23:00 +0000

Do your students struggle with word problems?

The students that I work with as an instructional coach have so much difficulty deciphering if a word problem calls for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, or a combination of these.

Solving word problems with multiple operations

To help them practice I created a math station where instead of solving word problems, they need to decide which operation is needed.

This super fun operation sort includes 41 word problems. Students take turns pulling a strip and as a group they decide which operation is needed to solve. Then, they sort it accordingly.

Solving word problems with multiple operations

As an added bonus, you can have them solve all or a few of the problems after they are sorted.

Why use sorting this sorting activity?

It makes students stop and think – When kids are given a word problem, they right away start thinking about the final answer. This makes them forget about solving and really think about what is needed here.
You can get through a lot of word problems in a short period of time – Because they are not solving, they are able to complete many of these during a math center or whole group activity.
It allows for collaboration and math discourse – Students get to discuss why they think a problem calls for addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.
It’s fun!

Fun can wrappers are included. These work great with your standard size food can.

A recording sheet has been included as well!

Purchase this activity here!

This super fun product can be found here.

The post The struggle with math word problems appeared first on Loving Math.