Guided Math

I use to have a love/hate relationship with teaching math. Some days I loved it; some days I hated it. It wasn't until I began to incorporate Guided Math into my daily math block that I started to actually look forward to teaching math everyday. I've changed how Guided Math looks in my classroom every year, but this year, it all of sudden has just clicked for me. I've said it before on my blog... I love teaching small groups! It just gives me an opportunity to really get to know my students. Here is a little peek into how I teach Guided Math.

I begin my math block with a 10-15 minute mini-lesson. I typically chose one skill/standard to cover during the week. I either create an anchor chart, work on problem solving using the I Do, We Do, You Do instruction format, or play a quick whole class game.

Here I simply wrote balanced equations on sentence strips. Some were true and some were false. Students had to work in pairs to determine if their equation was correct or not. If it was incorrect, they had to work to make it a true equation. 

After my mini-lesson, students go to math centers. One of the rotations is called instruction time. This is where students work with me in their Guided Math group. This usually lasts about 30-45 minutes. Students are grouped based on pre-assessments that are taken prior to the unit. We begin Guided Math by reviewing the skill we learned during the mini-lesson. After I see that my group is comfortable with the skill, they play a game with their Guided Math group. The lesson above has students arranging the steps to solve a word problem, in order, and using the steps to solve the problem.

Sometimes I have my kiddos record their answers on a recording sheet in a clear plastic pocket protector or we just write on the table with dry erase markers. 

These activities are part of my March Guided Math product. Each skill has a small group lesson and small group game. I've also included recording sheets for the small group game and assessments for each skill that can be used as a pre- and post-test. The small group games can be easily differentiated based on your students' needs.

I hope you're enjoying your Sunday friends!

Guided Math

I wanted to share a quick look into what Guided Math looks like in my classroom. Before I begin, let me be totally honest...

1. I haven't been as consistent with Guided Math as I'd like to be. That's partly why I started to create resources to supplement my Guided Math instruction. 

2. I'm still looking to learn more about Guided Math and tweak things as needed.

My Guided Math time is not built into my math instruction block. I reserve a chunk of time, about 30 minutes, towards the end of the day to alternate between Guided Math and pulling my RTI kiddos. I don't always meet with the same groups of students. I pull kids that need extension or remediation with specific skills. I use my pre-assessment to help create my groups, but I also might pull kids based on my observations during our math block earlier in the day. While I have students working with me, my other students are finishing incomplete work, reading, working on early finisher tubs, or going on Xtra Math. 

I start my groups with some type of hands-on practice using manipulatives. 

Then, I guide them through practice activities that are based on the skill we are working on that day {These practice activities are leveled below, on, and above.} I love using these plastic sleeves! Just write and wipe! 

Students are then sent back to their seats to work independently on an interactive journal page. 

These resources can be found here in my Guided Math Resources product for standard 2.G.3. It's on sale through tomorrow! I plan on making a similar resource for comparing numbers next.