Math Workshop Monday and Monday Made It {10.14.13}

For the last few weeks, I've been blogging each Monday about what is working for me in Math Workshop (and sometimes not working).

This week's focus will be on the second rotation:

You might have read in last week's post that I am not teaching my small group a day ahead anymore.  I did teach it that way last year.  You can read more about what I mean {here} if you are interested.  Basically, I taught the lesson the day before in small group, gave a mini lesson the next day and that was the lesson they would complete during "At Your Seat".  I quit doing that this year because I found that the students were a little confused about what they were supposed to be doing by being a day behind on their independent practice.

Another reason I quit doing it that way is because I want my small group instruction time to be spent teaching the students what they need rather than just teaching the lesson we are completing that day in class.  This also allows me the opportunity to use my small group time more effectively.

This year, my students are completing the "Independent Practice" from the textbook.  Sometimes, I change it up a bit and have them complete some other type of activity that I've found somewhere or that I've created that teaches the concept better than the textbook.

Why do I even use the textbook?  Well, the main reason...it saves on copies.  I don't know how the copy ration works at your school, but for mine, copies are like gold.  You really have to ration out what you "spend" your copy allotment on at my school. I'm sure that is the same in a lot of places.  I choose to spend my copies primarily on assessments.  I have to give grades, so I have to use my copies to give those assessments.  This also helps parents see what their child might need to review.

Sometimes during the "At Your Seat" time, students finish early.  If they do, they start on their work for "Math Facts"/Calendar Math or they go back and finish extra questions that I've given to early finishers.

Now onto something a little more exciting:

Last year, I created a few things for my home for Halloween/Fall decorating.  This year, I only created one thing.

But, I did it twice.  I'm mailing my mother-in-law the second one that I made.  She put in a special order.  It only took me three weeks to finish it.  I wonder why???

Happy Monday, everyone :)  I hope you have a great week.