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In Part 1 of our 3 part #MathWorkshopChat live Twitter series, we discussed how we can use math workshop to address the needs of all students in the math class, and where to find quality resources to fuel productive math workshops.
We had a lively discussion with wonderful input from Math Solutions hosts Genni Steele and Mary Mitchell, Math Workshop author Jennifer Lempp, and teachers. Here are a few of our favorite insights and highlights from the chat:
Let’s dive into some questions! Q1: What are your challenges in meeting the needs of all students in #math class? #MathWorkshopChat pic.twitter.com/WOcSom6Phg
— Math Solutions (@Math_Solutions) November 30, 2017
A1 – Ensuring my questions and feedback are within the students’ Zone of Proximal Development #mathworkshopchat
— Margaret Allen (@AllenCrew) November 30, 2017
A1. Trying to meet each student where they are at and moving them all forward. #MathWorkshopChat
— Jayne Haenel (@JayneHaenel) November 30, 2017
Q2: How have you tried to address these challenges? #MathWorkshopChat pic.twitter.com/yOoBCdA3uN
— marymitchell (@marymitchell) November 30, 2017
A2: Providing opportunities for different grouping/learning structures! Small group, independent work time, partner activities. Whatever the grouping structure, making sure the learning activities are INTENTIONAL and serve a purpose rather than “busy work”! #MathWorkshopChat
— Becky Berg (@becberg) November 30, 2017
Talk is a critical part of math workshop!!! Those doing the math and talking about the math are the ones that are learning! #MathWorkshopChat
— Jennifer Lempp (@lempp5) November 30, 2017
A2 Trying to use menus or “projects” for Ss to work on, but honest it is a struggle to keep up w creating & maintaining #MathWorkshopChat
— HJC (@HeatherHJC) November 30, 2017
A2: Finding richer tasks that allowed entry for all, and lots of room to run with it. Learning to plan questions to support students appropriately. #lowfloorhighceiling #mathworkshopchat https://t.co/c8TgCQ4GOv
— Nicole Bridge (@NicoleBridge1) November 30, 2017
I used to think sentence frames were only helpful for ELs. Then I realized that all kids needed support with how to engage in math discourse. Sentence frames and sentence starters have really helped my math workshop! #MathWorkshopChat
— Jennifer Lempp (@lempp5) November 30, 2017
Community building is key! We need to spend the time to teach routines, procedures, and build community! #MathWorkshopChat
— Jennifer Lempp (@lempp5) November 30, 2017
Q3: What has worked and not worked? #MathWorkshopChat pic.twitter.com/ZkFPz5BJ6P
— marymitchell (@marymitchell) November 30, 2017
#MathWorkshopChat A:3 worked: rich tasks that all can access, not worked: follow up to best meet needs (check in with all)
— Holly Burwell (@holly_burwell) November 30, 2017
A3: It’s not a one size fits all. When you try to make the math block look the same every day for every concept, it gets boring. Its ok for the structure to be different #MathWorkshopChat
— Nichole Lindgren (@m4thn3rd) November 30, 2017
A3 Games with pairing students of different levels increase the math talk between students #mathworkshopchat
— Pat Lawler (@quackie96) November 30, 2017
@Dianemathsolu1. A3 Incorporating choice with learning stations/menus engaged students more than just assigning stations that every child rotated through. #MathWorkshopChat
— Diane Reynolds (@Dianemathsolu1) November 30, 2017
Couldn’t agree more! If the class looks the same every day, then differentiation is most likely not happening! Varying the structure allows for all the components of math workshop! #MathWorkshopChat
— Jennifer Lempp (@lempp5) November 30, 2017
.@HeatherHJC The struggle is real! @Math_Solutions #MathWorkshopChat https://t.co/A2nRXb5aXt
— Genni Steele (@gennisteele) November 30, 2017
A3: Giving my Ss choices helps them with engagement, and it helps me know them as mathematicians; Bringing us together to talk about their experiences is eye-opening! #MathWorkshopChat
— Cheryl Nowak (@TimePig) November 30, 2017
Q4: What are some words that come to mind when you hear Math Workshop? #MathWorkshopChat #mathworkshop pic.twitter.com/xi4MlFzXOd
— Math Solutions (@Math_Solutions) November 30, 2017
A4: small groups, rich tasks, collaboration#MathWorkshopChat
— Lisa Rogers (@clakars) November 30, 2017
A4: There are so many words. choice, groups, differentiation, talk, tasks, NOISE (the good kind). I don’t think i’ve ever gone into a silent classroom successfully doing math workshop #MathWorkshopChat
— Nichole Lindgren (@m4thn3rd) November 30, 2017
A4: engaging, choice, focused, accessible, just right, FUN!!!!! Math Workhsop is all this and a bag of chips! #MathWorkshopChat
— Jennifer Lempp (@lempp5) November 30, 2017
A4: Reader’s Workshop: Mini-lessons, conferring, anchor charts that we build together. #MathWorkshopChat https://t.co/A0TEQsrors
— Nicole Bridge (@NicoleBridge1) November 30, 2017
A4: engagement, collaboration, personalized #mathworkshopchat
— marymitchell (@marymitchell) November 30, 2017
A4. Math workshops have me like #MathWorkshopChat pic.twitter.com/Z0cjXpUWSM
— Jonathan M. Haas (@JonHaasMathHMH) November 30, 2017
Q5: Have you ever implemented Learning Stations or a Math Workshop approach to your math instruction? Describe how. #MathWorkshopChat pic.twitter.com/LOYeTtkOhN
— marymitchell (@marymitchell) November 30, 2017
The only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all. I’m glad it’s getting better. You are too hard on yourself. Nothing’s perfect! You’ve got this! #MathWorkshopChat
— Jennifer Lempp (@lempp5) November 30, 2017
Agree. Whole Group has its place. We do need to work on community and being a community of learners. Thanks for the reminder @AllenCrew @Math_Solutions #MathWorkshopChat https://t.co/Iz92DqnN7f
— Genni Steele (@gennisteele) November 30, 2017
A5: I’ve used multiple math workshop formats, but all included time for mini lessons and conferences each week, a guided math table(with varied groups depending on student need), and stations/menus as critical components. #MathWorkshopChat
— Meghan Alcorn (@AlcornMeghan) November 30, 2017
Menus are SO important in communicating the options for students! #MathWorkshopChat
— Jennifer Lempp (@lempp5) November 30, 2017
A5. When I taught Kindergarten I always tried to have 4 to 5 centers. 2 review centers, 2 current topic centers and 1 free exploration center that was a really a chance for them to look ahead to the next topic. #MathWorkshopChat
— Jonathan M. Haas (@JonHaasMathHMH) November 30, 2017
Q5 implementing stations this year & is working Ss rotate in groups Works well bc I have limited tech& allows equal access #MathWorkshopChat
— HJC (@HeatherHJC) November 30, 2017
Yes & yes! I recommend taking time to teach HOW to do math workshop over the course of 20 days (while still teaching math). This is whole group. & sharing out strategies from a task is often done whole group. It’s WHAT and HOW we use the whole group that matters!#MathWorkshopChat
— Jennifer Lempp (@lempp5) November 30, 2017
A5: trying hard to do this! this year better than last but not perfect. 3rd grade stations w/teacher as instruction. #mathworkshopchat
— Robin Nehila (@Radical_Robin) November 30, 2017
Q6: How are @lempp5‘s ideas about Learning Stations the same as or different than your ideas and experiences? #MathWorkshopChat (Watch this video: https://t.co/6a8JXJrpdo) pic.twitter.com/mJzro71HxI
— Math Solutions (@Math_Solutions) November 30, 2017
A6: Jennifer also mentions how math skills can be spiraled. This is so important for student understanding. #MathWorkshopChat
— Cindy Cliche (@CindyCliche1) November 30, 2017
A6: I definitely learned that “quality and not quantity” were important so I introduced learning stations throughout the unit instead of all at once or having several stations for each unit. #MathWorkshopChat https://t.co/aFClnjQXNu
— Vada Gray (@lamacgirl) November 30, 2017
A6: love @lempp5’s thoughts and ideas for using our time effectively. We cannot build the plane while we’re flying…it’s not fair to our kiddos. Planning and preparation are vital! #MathWorkshopChat
— Meghan Alcorn (@AlcornMeghan) November 30, 2017
#MathWorkshopChat pic.twitter.com/vCE9aEEOze
— Jonathan M. Haas (@JonHaasMathHMH) November 30, 2017
A6: it’s important to not box yourself into a certain number of stations for each unit or week. That can lead to a station or two that doesn’t meet the QUALITY criteria. #MathWorkshopChat
— Jennifer Lempp (@lempp5) November 30, 2017
Q7: Where do you find quality games, tasks, and problem solving activities for Learning Stations? #MathWorkshopChat pic.twitter.com/VIJ1YU4FdU
— marymitchell (@marymitchell) November 30, 2017
A7: Of course I love ALL of @Math_Solutions and @mburnsmath resources, but I’ve also found worthwhile tasks and games in Investigations and First Steps. I tend to make my own activities often as well using the content and process standards as my inspiration! #MathWorkshopChat
— Meghan Alcorn (@AlcornMeghan) November 30, 2017
A7: Twitter is full of so many great ideas that are already tested in classrooms by fellow teachers. #mathworkshopchat
— Terra Sweet (@boosterclubedu) November 30, 2017
A7: Lots of great resources shared and also want to mention that NCTM has lots to offer. I have used several of the activities in math stations. #MathWorkshopChat
— Cindy Cliche (@CindyCliche1) November 30, 2017
A7: Math Solutions, Investigations, district PD, Math Stations and soon I have hopes of Jennifer’s new book transforming my KDG classroom full of learners! #MathWorkshopChat
— Cheryl Nowak (@TimePig) November 30, 2017
A7 All of @mburnsmath games, @Math_Solutions pub., VanDeWalle, Alex Lawson’s work in “What to Look for”, #mathworkshopchat
— Margaret Allen (@AllenCrew) November 30, 2017
A7: https://t.co/dcwCFNNsIO#MathWorkshopChat
— Dawn Dibley (@DDibley123) November 30, 2017
A7: I’m lucky I come from a county that creates a lot of great resources, but to name a few I also look at youcubed, van de walle’s Elementary and middle school mathematics, Good Questions for math teaching… so many good resources out there #MathWorkshopChat
— Nichole Lindgren (@m4thn3rd) November 30, 2017
As a thank you for joining us, please enjoy these 2 math games https://t.co/p4nQhOrvEM and https://t.co/u2ZWI15ddR #MathWorkshopChat pic.twitter.com/YjYR1XTXaV
— Math Solutions (@Math_Solutions) November 30, 2017
Thanks to everyone for joining our first #MathWorkshopChat & to @lempp5, @gennisteele, and @marymitchell for their content contributions! For more information on @lempp5‘s book head over here: https://t.co/eYKo2AAPMY pic.twitter.com/bX5ZRoYuyd
— Math Solutions (@Math_Solutions) November 30, 2017
To see the full chat, check out our Storify recap:
Mark your calendar for our next #MathWorkshopChat on January 31st at 8PM ET / 5PM PT!
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