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!
I use workshop for reading, writing, and math. I love using it in all three areas.
I have not tried workshops in my classroom. This is my second year of teaching so I am getting a feel for different strategies in my classroom. One day I look forward to using centers in my classroom.
Since I have a smaller class size this year, I think I'm ready to give the whole Math Workshop thing a try. Hopefully, it goes well! Thanks for the tips!
I have never tried a math workshop before. I will admit that workshops are not my strongest teaching talent. Hopefully I will do better this year. I am excited to try your Math Steps pack.
geat ideas! I love your bulletin board for math rotations.
I haven't been doing workshop, but may try this year!
This will be my first year teaching. I plan on using workshops for Math, writing and reading.
I would like to!
I haven't tried the workshop model before but would like to try it with Reading. Thanks!
I plan to try the workshop model this year! I'm really looking forward to it and this was a great post to help with starting it!
I have done the workshop model for reading and writing but not for math!
Have not tried but it looks very helpful
I might try something like this in my math class.
How are you able to teach whole group math as well? Last year was my first year teaching and I wpuld teach a math lesson whole group each day then have the kids do an activity or practice. Do you do whole group as well? Thanks!
I use Reader's Workshop and Writer's Workshop but have not used it for math. I will definitely try it out this year.
Giving math workshops a try this year!
Thank you for a clear explanation on how to implement math workshop. I'll try to implement this year
Thank you for sharing how you implemented math workshop. I purchased a few of your materials at TPT.
I have always taught in a pre-kindergarten classroom. Therefore, I have never used a workshop setting in my classroom before. I have spent a semester observing in a classroom that used the workshop model for reading and writing. I will be doing my student teaching experience this fall in a kindergarten classroom and I'm excited to see if they will be using a math workshop model. These are great ideas and I will definitely be referring back to this page when I am in my own elementary classroom!! Thanks for the ideas!!
This is what our students need…question after looking over the first week. What do you do with the skills that haven't been taught yet? Would you start them with the 4 th grade one or skip the skills students do not know yet? Thanks!
I have used the workshop model in language arts (reading and writing). I want to try it in math.
I haven't used the math workshop either but I look forward to trying it!
Not yet
I am a master at reading centers. But although I've tried math workshop, I feel like students don't have enough practice on the skill we're learning when I do math centers. I plan on trying it again this year though. My main goal, especially for math, is giving students authentic, hands-on practice, and math centers seems like the best way to do that.
I have used the workshop model in both math and writing. Thanks for the ideas!!
thanks for the overview of math workshop model. I love the small group time as well as the other centers. I'm still working on getting the components to run smoothly.
I did it for reading last year. This year I am adding in math and writing!
I love your math station ideas and grouping system! It is my first year and I am so excited to try out math stations!
I teach 5th graders math, and am really excited to start the math workshop this year. I have been reading blogs and books pertaining to this topic all summer. Thank you for the help.
I teach 5th graders math, and am really excited to start the math workshop this year. I have been reading blogs and books pertaining to this topic all summer. Thank you for the help.
I've tried to get started with stations and centres in Literacy before but have never ventured into math. I'm looking forward to trying them with my combined grade as I think it would help things a lot!
I tried the workshop model in Math when I taught the subject two years ago, it was amazing and the students loved it.
I have tried the workshop model when I co-taught in first grades and loved it!
Hi Elizabeth, When I was a classroom teacher, I used the workshop model for reading and writing and one year in math. Now my district has adopted a basal for reading so it will be completely different. We use Lucy Calkin's for writing. For math, we use a blended model which is like a workshop approach but more flexible (less rotations and more conferences with kids/pairs/groups as needed). We have 2 teachers in each classroom for math so it's doable. I don't know how doable it would be with just 1 teacher. I am now an ESL teacher and co-teach math and writing. I also have language/ reading groups for the rest of the day. Are you also an ESL teacher? If so we need to collaborate! My Bright Blue House
I haven;t tried them yet, but I plan to now! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I am a perservice teacher, so have not yet had the opportunitiy to use one of the workshops. I have one more year until graduation. I can't wait to try them with students.
Great ideas I will be sharing!! Thank you!
Love this idea of Spiral Review. I've done it more in an oral fashion as a whole class. I see how this could be a quick and easy thing to add to what I'm doing. Thanks for the inspiration:)
Have not tried Workshop yet, but it sounds very interesting.
Please forgive me if you have already listed it, but do you offer the printable for your rotations? Also, I understand the rotation cards on the left, but what are the pocket chart things on the right? What are they used for? I have been doing math centers for 5 years, but I'm a little tired of my rotation and would like to try something new. I am using Engage NY this year for the first time so I am going to have to try to pull this all together! 🙂 Thanks!
I haven't tried the workshop model, but I like the idea!
I haven't used the model as of yet, but I plan on using it this year. I will be teaching 6th grade Math. I plan on using your resources as a part of my RTI. Thank you so much.
I briefly used a workshop approach in Math and my students enjoyed it. I.,no longer teach math due to departmentalizing or I'd give it a try again.
I haven't yet but look forward to it now.
Love this idea of MATH Workshop. I haven't tried it before, but definitely will this year. I especially love your MATH acronym.
I have always wanted to try this but can't seem to make it work time-wise. Do you do any whole group instruction first? If so, for how long and how long is each rotation?
Your ideas are interesting. I haven't tried workshop before.
I have used math workshop and love it.
All summer long I have been looking for ways to make reading and math rotations work for me and my incoming students. Thanks for the tips!
I like the idea of math rotations, specifically because you can differentiate. Yet I struggled with students moving different classrooms and a 60 minute block. Any suggestions?