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 have tried the workshop model for math and I love it. I too use M.A.T.H. but have it stand for Math by Myself (problem solving booklet and different worksheets), Activity with a buddy (flashcard, Superspeed Math from Whole Brain teaching, buddy game or activity), Teacher Table, and Hands On (game as a group, using pocket charts, doing sorts, building shapes, iPad). I love doing math this way. I have done it two years in grade 3 and have moved down to grade 1/2 and continued it there for three years as well. I am helping our entire primary wing to implement this model and am excited for the results. I too sometimes only have a forty minute block (so I only do two rotations a day with a problem solving or mini lesson for the whole group on the fifth day) or a sixty minute block and will do 4 15 minute rotations instead…tricky to plan a bit for the 15 minutes, but doable.
Yes and love it! Works great in math and science.
I started the math workshop model in my classroom last year. I'm hoping to start doing the Daily 5 for language arts this year as well!
I haven't tried math workshop but it sounds intriguing and I am anxious to try it. Thank you for all the info.
I haven't tried math workshop but would love to try it this year. It sounds interesting!
I've done reading workshop, but not math. I've been trying to read up on guided math over the summer, though. I don't know why math workshop is more intimidating to me than reading workshop is.
I have tried the workshop model for math and language arts! I couldn't survive without it!
I love your idea! I haven't tried workshop before but I will try them this year!
I tried centers last year, but not Math Workshop. Looks very fun and effective!
I have done some centers but not really workshops. Coming from middle school, it is an adjustment teaching primary!
WOW Thanks! I have been wanting to do this and now can get started!
thanks for the opportunity. have a great year!
Happy to see some people above have successfully used workshop with Everyday Math…I feel overwhelmed doing a new skill every day and was hesitant to increase my stress with workshop!
I have done writer's workshop and attempted math workshop last year but got overwhelmed. Hoping to pick it up again this year.
I really want to try the Math Workshop model. We currently use workshop for Reading and Writing.
I've taught ELA for the past few years using a workshop model. This year I'm switching to math and plan to use the workshop model for it as well.
I have use workshop model for years and am constantly tweaking. Like the idea of starting with Math first.
I have used the workshop model in math. Loved it!
I haven't used math workshop before, but I would like to try this year.
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