Math Workshop: Building Routines That Last a Year
Hello friends! I’m so excited to be joining some of my favorite upper elementary blog buddies for a huge link up to share some great Back to School Survival Tips. Hop on through each of our blogs and check out the collection of tips that should get your new year started right!
Have you considered starting a Math Workshop model in your classroom, but just don’t know where to start? I’m going to share some tips to help you start the year off using the workshop model and give you ideas and suggestions about how you can build those routines that will last all year long.
Years ago when I first implemented the workshop model, I was anxious about how to make it work. Often, teachers feel comfortable implementing Reading Workshop and even Writing Workshop, but just don’t know how to make this method work for math. I took the opposite approach. I tackled Math Workshop head-on FIRST before attempting Reading or Writing Workshop and I never looked back!
Tip #1: How is it organized?
For me, this meant having my student rotate through a series of 4 stations. Those 4 stations used the acronym M.A.T.H. to make it simple for students to rotate through each of the letters every day.
Tip #2: How do you start?
You have to establish expectations about how to use math materials properly. I’ve used a lesson that I called “Math Tools vs. Math Toys”. For this lesson, I began by placing tubs of math tools (electronic flashcards (like Math Sharks), flashcards, dice, center packets, task cards, etc.) on the group tables. Before opening the boxes of math tools, we discussed the difference between a math tool and a toy. I would ask a series of questions including:- What do you do with math tools?
- How is that different than a toy?
- Can I “play” with math tools if I wanted to? (Yes)
- Should I “play” with my math tools? (No)
I had students write what they see as the difference between the two on a sticky note and bring it to a chart labeled “Math Tools vs. Math Toys”. We discussed the students answers. Then, we began working with math tools “correctly” and then I modeled in an over-the-top silly way using the tools inappropriately. I usually picked a student who can really “ham it up” with me. We tossed the dice at each other pretending to have a war. We took the flash cards and dealt them out like we are playing a game of cards and threw them in the air a bit. You get the idea. By taking the time to complete this activity, your students will have a reference whenever you have to revisit the expectations.
Tip #3: How do you organize groups?
This is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of any classroom workshop model. I tried many different methods for grouping my students. However, what I found to be the most effective way to group my students was based on their mathematical needs. If I had established routines and procedures, then I didn’t have to worry about grouping students primarily based on student behavior. I found that the best way to determine what skills needed to be addressed during small group instruction was by using my Daily Spiral Math Review. 
Since the skills included in this pack are spiraled, and each domain is covered every single week, I was able to narrow down which skills my students needed to review. By using the weekly assessment included, I could track areas of concern for each of my students and then I would group “like” students together based on the skills that they needed to review.
You can try out the first week for free by downloading the product preview for each resource. You can check them both out by heading {here} or by clicking on the images above.
I hope that you found some tips that can help you get started with Math Workshop in your classroom! The tips can also easily be adapted to any workshop model.
For more tips to add to your survival guide for Back to School, head on over to my friends’ blogs to read more!
This year will be the first time I am starting the year in my own room. (I've had several long-term sub jobs that started mid-year.) I like the way center time works for reading and wanted to apply some of those concepts for a math rotation. Your M.A.T.H. system sounds like it will be perfect to adapt for my class. Thanks for sharing!
I have not tried it but I am always open to trying new things to see what works best! Thanks you!
Thanks for the help getting organised!
I've used a workshop model in math. I'm looking forward to fine tuning things this year.
I have used the workshop model for writing.
I have tried it in Reading and Writing! Would love to try it in Math though your post is great, thanks for sharing 🙂
I love doing the workshop model in math. I use the same MATH acronym. It really helps me concentrate on differentiation with my students.
Just for reading 🙂
I have only dabbled in centers! Thanks 🙂
I have not, but hope to do so this year!
I haven't done workshops yet, but I really hope to implement them this year. You gave me some great ideas to get them going:)
My school uses the reader's workshop model. We like it.
I have used Daily 5 for several years now. This year I am incorporating Writer's Workshop.
I use a modified workshop model in math, reading, and writing. Thanks for the give away. 😁
I used Reading workshop last year in my classroom. I am excited to add Math workshop this year!
This is my first year trying workshop teaching in reading. Wish me luck.
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Love the routine! Just a few questions: When you are doing “teacher time”, do you have different lessons you teach to differentiate or are you answering questions? Also, what are some math activities you recommend using? Is this similar to using task cards?Thanks!
Is your math board/rotation schedule on TpT? I love it and would like to use it! I can't find it anywhere! Please let me know….Thanks!sarahsnow530@gmail.com
I have tried the workshop model in Reading and Writing. I haven't taught math in a few years but I will this year!
I have used the workshop model in language arts (reading and writing and word study). I tried using it in math but struggled this past year. I appreciate your tips and ideas to help me make it much better this year!
I love the workshop model. I do it 4 days a week with 3 rotations. I do a 15 minute quick intro lesson because my small group is my lesson of the day. I love your organization. Thank you for sharing,
Do you think this is workable with a structured math curriculum such as Everyday Math? When do you do your main instruction? Is it mini-lesson style at the beginning, or just during teacher time?
They are actually in my plans to do this year for math and reading/language arts. I am excited. My rotation board is very much like yours.
I use a workshop model for ELA. I see 2-3 groups per day for 15-25 mins. each (depends on what we need to do in group time). I see my intervention group daily, my on-level group 2-3x per week, and my advanced group 2x per week. The students working independently complete book club reading and assignments, and other tasks from a Must Do menu. When they finish those items, they choose a May Do they are interested in. When I pull groups, I we have book club discussions and work on skills they need to sharpen. Next year will be my first teaching math and implementing math workshop for my class. I'm excited to try your strategies!
I have been using reader's and writer's workshop for YEARS…I honestly can't remember what life was like without it. Why I didn't start math workshop sooner is really beyond me. I started using this model in math just last year. We use NWEA to test our students and I tried to utilize the data from that to place my students. I did an “okay” job – but that's really where I struggle most making sure each student gets EXACTLY what they need during small group instruction. So, I'm a work in progress…LOVE this post!HollyCrisscross Applesauce in First Grade
I have never tried math workshop in my room. I have been wanting to try it but i feel overwhelmed. Maybe is I just start with baby steps and just do them after my math lesson I could get them started.
I do a modified version of Writer's Workshop. I would love to try a math workshop model.Christina Marie Apples, Books, and Crayons applesbooksandcrayons@gmail.com
I have never tried the workshop model but have been planning to do so this year (in reading–I don't teach math).
This is my first year to teach so I am really looking forward to implementing this model!
I have not tried any Workshop models in my classroom. I would like to try them though.
I currently use Reader's Wokshop and have been “attempting” to implement the Math model. Thank you for this advice. chief9937@Yahoo.com
I use the workshop model for my reading block. Love it!
I have not tried workshops in my classroom, but I would LOVE to give them a try for both math and reading.
My students do one station a day, but I'm considering changing it. Do you use the same material at the stations each day for that week or do you change it every day?
Give it a try and let me know how it goes, Courtney!
You are welcome, Ellen. Keep me posted and email me if you ever have any questions.
You are welcome!
Absolutely! I always taught a mini-lesson at the beginning of each day on the new skill for the week. This was tied to what they were doing during their independent practice time. When I first started the using this model years ago, I did use my small group teacher time for this instruction, but as I got more comfortable with the model, I then switched to teaching what my students needed during the small group time. Therefore, I started doing the mini-lessons before beginning our rotations. This worked the best for me! Thanks for asking. Also, feel free to email me if you ever have any questions.
Thank you, Holly! I think we are all a work in progress…that's what makes teaching so fun!
Absolutely! Start small and don't overwhelm yourself or your students. That only leads to giving up (I know this from experience). Best of luck to you!
I have used Math Workshop but I do need all the help I can get to improve upon my set up – Thank you!
Great question! I would never suggest trying to change it every day. In my opinion, that would be too difficult to manage. I would switch mine out every 2-3 weeks when my groups changed. That seemed to work fine. If you change it too often, then students spend a majority of their time trying to figure out what to do, rather than working on the skill they need to review.
Thank you for your math workshop suggestions, I have determined that I'm going to start a workshop model this year, so over the summer I have created several games to reinforce place value. I like your daily spiral review, especially how neat & organized it is!
I have done workshop for both math and ELA. I'm moving to kinder this year so I'll have to make some modifications to it but I still plan on using this model!
Any workshop model scares the heck out of me, but I think that we're going to give it another try this year. I use your 5th grade Math Moves every day and just love them!!
I like the idea of math stations/workshop but it seems hard to do for 8th graders. I'm currently reading “Minds on Mathematics” by Wendy Ward Hoffer to try to help me set this up for the coming school year.
No I have not tried the workshop model but I am inspired to do so this year!
I have tried the workshop model several times in math. I really enjoy it and will definitely take your helpful hints into consideration when planning this year! Thanks!
Oh, Diane! Thank you so much! I'm so glad that you love them 🙂