Ahhh, math centers. Math centers are one area that I'm continually trying to improve. Trying to improve the activities during center time. Trying to improve the transitions during math center time. Trying to improve the balance between whole group instruction and independent time. Overall, I'm trying to make center time better!
Our math block is divided into three sections. The first section is our whole group time. During this time, students learn about the topic of the day. Students may work in small groups or with partners during this time. Students complete the activities that go with our math curriculum. The second section of math is for our journal page. This allows me to check and see if students are understanding the topic. The third section is for math support time OR independent math centers. If students have shown they understand the topic, they go to their center for the day. If students need help, they will come to my table for some extra instruction.
Currently, I have a schedule for students that tells them where to go for math centers. At the end of the day, I rotate their names to the next activity.
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| This is displayed on our SmartBoard during center time. |
While I like that I do not need to spend time telling students where to go, I have some concerns. The first concern is that students will not have enough time at their center spot. Some students finish their journal page late and then only have five minutes to work at a center. This does not give them enough time to finish their work. They are on to a new center the next day so they do not revisit their unfinished work. The second concern I have is that students may miss a center completely. If students need to work with me, they miss their activity for the day. The names switch at the end of the day and they are on to a new activity.
After some researching, I came across a blog post from The Brown Bag Teacher that discusses setting up math centers.
She suggests having students choose their math centers. Students can choose which center to visit but they must visit each center by the end of the week. This may be a great way to ensure that students do not always miss certain centers. While it requires a bit more management, I may give this a try next fall. I would also add that when kids finish up visiting each center, they need to go back to the ones they did not finish.
I'd love to hear your thoughts about math centers!
Questions:
*Do you have a set time for math centers?
*If so, how do you decide where students should go? Do you tell them or do they decide? Have you found any strategies that work best?
*If so, how do you decide where students should go? Do you tell them or do they decide? Have you found any strategies that work best?
When I taught third grade I used math centers as an enrichment activity for when my students finished their math assignment early. Most of my math centers were fun games that were a spiral review for my students. My students got to decide for themselves which center they wanted to go to, but I had a number limit for each. On Fridays I usually planned a short lesson so that everyone was able to choose a center.
ReplyDeleteWhen I taught third grade I used math centers as an enrichment activity for when my students finished their math assignment early. Most of my math centers were fun games that were a spiral review for my students. My students got to decide for themselves which center they wanted to go to, but I had a number limit for each. On Fridays I usually planned a short lesson so that everyone was able to choose a center.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea about a shorter lesson on Friday! I may have to try that for next year. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteAs I was reading the first part of your post, I was thinking the word "choice" in my head. Then, I read what you wrote about the Brown Bag Teacher. I teach math using Math Daily 3 and it is centered on student choice. Students choose the activity they work on. The first round of Daily 3, I require that they choose an activity that focuses on the previous day's skills. After that, they may choose. They choose math by myself, math with someone, or math writing and within those components are various activities for them to choose. They love choice! I am subscribed to the CCPensieve site through Daily 5 and CAFE, so I keep track of everything on there. It's wonderful and I can easily see if a student needs to choose one of the three areas yet for the day.
ReplyDeleteThe Daily 3 sounds really interesting! What are your favorite resources for learning about the Daily 3? Thanks for explaining!
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