Guided Math

Last year was my first year in grade 2 and I found it a struggle to keep all students’ attention while teaching math whole group.  Around this time a group of teachers went to a guided math PD session offered in the area.  In speaking with Carol Kam she explained a few of the concepts covered and I quickly decided that small group was the answer to my problem with teaching math in grade two. 

Here is what I am working on with math centres in my room:

Usually, I do a quick math opener or mini-lesson to teach a concept whole group and then break into our math centres for more in-depth learning.

I currently have four groups.  These groups rotate through four ‘centres’ in my room and from them Misty and I pull students to work with us on more complex concepts. 

Currently, I have a group that is working with some dice shakers I purchased after attending a session with Deana at the ECEC conference this year.  These come from Box Cars and One Eyed Jacks and are mostly independent centres the kids can use once the ‘game’ has been explained. 

Another group works on the online math game Prodigy, while Misty pulls a group and I pull a group.  Misty is currently working with the students in their Math Journal on number concepts. In the event Misty is away I have some simple math workbook pages I have copied for that group to use independently. 

I try to change out the ‘games’ and activities after a couple rounds of each group having a turn but have found that some of the centres are proving difficult and the kids need more work on them.   At times Misty or I will sit with one of the ‘game’ groups if we see they are struggling to remind them of the concepts or to help ensure they are understanding the tasks. 

When I pull a group, I work on whichever concept I am trying to teach the class at that time.  The best part of teaching ‘guided math’ is being able to meet all students where they are.  I have one group that cannot identify numbers 1-10 and I have another group that is ready to be introduced to harder, grade three level, math concepts.  Previously, when I taught whole group I would have ½ my class bored because the math is too easy and the other ½ confused because they didn’t have any idea what I was saying.  Now, even within the small groups, I can differentiate as I can easily give little Johnny a different number than little Susie is working with. 

With Jackie coming to our school and working with me and Deana on our guided math groups I hope to continue to develop in my organization of the math centres and my teaching of concepts throughout the guided math time.

Sorry I couldn't include pictures... had lots of problems uploading this to the blog and they seemed not to want to work.  Jenn :)