Organizing Math Centers

I typically start my math block with a whole group mini-lesson. Then we break into groups during the rest of the math time.

How do we organize our math groups?

Most of our students need small group guidance on their math development daily. This can be a juggling act! Not only is it a challenge deciding what to do with these small math groups, but also, what do the rest of the students do while the teacher is occupied?

Here are some suggestions:

I use magnets to display these cards on my board. The names have magnets as well. (I change my groups frequently, depending on the topic I'm teaching and the needs of my students.) 

The above board represents how I might assign groups at the beginning of the school year. I would spend the first block of time teaching a game or two, and expectations for each center. The groups follow the cards vertically. Tanner's group would explore manipulatives first, while Bailey's group uses computers or tablets. Ethan's group has independent practice while Brian's group will play math games. Partners are usually assigned and are listed side by side. In the case of an odd amount of students, there will be a group of three.

At the beginning of the year, there is no "work with teacher" station. I use that time to circulate among my students, making sure they understand expectations and staying quietly focused on their assignments.

Once they've got the routine down,  the board might look more like this:

I'll be meeting with three of the four groups today. I'll find time to check in with the fourth group, but this is the group that needs less guidance. I'll only meet with them 2-3 times a week. I make sure to meet with my lowest group daily. I typically teach my groups a warm-up they can do without me, so I'll have a chance to make sure the other students settle into their centers.

As the year goes on, there are times when I need to assess individuals. 

My daily schedule might look something like this. I kept the one math group that really needed the guidance, but during the other 2 stations, I would pull individuals for assessment as needed. (You can see I used one of the blank cards for the group that needed time on that STEM project.)

If you're interested in these cards, just see the image below!

See the image below for information about organizing literacy centers.

How do you organize your math centers?

Ten Things for Students to Do While You're Teaching Math Groups

With the variety of skills students come to you with Mathematically, it's important to meet the needs of ALL students. Teaching Math in small groups is a great way to come closer to meeting their individual needs. The big question: 

What do the other students do while you're teaching math to small groups?

Here are some of the things that students can do when the teacher is busy with other students.

1.Independent Practice

Do you have a math series with workbook pages or practice sheets? This is where they fit in... but only if the children can perform these tasks on their own. Some of your more challenged students may need to be practicing skills that are more appropriate for them. They all love this, and it's a great way to build that number sense. (and easy to differentiate!) 

• Count to 1000 booklet

2. Working with a partner

Children are social beings and absolutely LOVE when they get to work together! For those children who are a little insecure in their skills, having a partner might help them build a little confidence. Plus, working with a partner leads to those rich conversations that help internalize learning.

3. Playing math games

Children love games, and will play them over and over again! That means they'll be practicing the skills over and over! Try some of these popular Math games: 

• Three Digit Card Draw
• Twenty One
• Base Ten Block Trading Game

or try this collection

• Sports Themed Bingo Math Games

4. Writing math stories

Some children LOVE to write! Here's a chance to let them do what they love while practicing math. Once they've written the math stories, they can share them with classmates for solving! 

5. Facts practice

If students spend 5 minutes a day practicing math facts, they will develop math fact fluency in no time at all. Here are a few posts that tell more about building math fact fluency.

• Drill and Kill: Do Students Still Need to Memorize?
• Making Addition and Subtraction Facts Stick
• Developing Multiplication and Division Fact Fluency
• Five Minutes a Day to Fact Fluency

6. Explore math manipulatives

They do love those manipulatives, don't they? In order to learn with manipulatives, they need to KNOW the manipulatives. My favorites are pattern blocks and Cuisenaire Rods. Read about these here:

• Number Sense with Cuisenaire Rods
• Learning Math Facts with Cuisenaire Rods

7. Digital task cards

I'm a HUGE fan of Boom Learning Digital Task Cards, and so are the kiddos! Here are a few favorites:

• Math Basic Concepts Second Grade Review
• Digital Fact Fluency Addition & Subtraction Levels 1-10 Bundle
• Digital Fact Fluency Multiplication & Division Levels 1-10 Bundle

Another option would be a digital math program. I've had much luck with Happy Numbers. It's a research-based individualized program that is easy to use and adapts to the mathematical needs of the students. Plus, teachers can see a record of how each child is doing! It's easy for the teachers and fun for the students. 

8. Practice with a teacher assistant or a parent volunteer

Some students need the assistance of an adult. I often refer to these adults as a "guest teacher." Sometimes, These adults have specific directions for their time with the child, and I'll let the child choose. 

9. Math puzzles and brain teasers

I'm sure you have plenty on hand, and the children love these! Here are some examples:

• Tangrams
• Sudoku
• Magic Squares
• Dominoes

10. STEM activities 

Who doesn't love a good STEM activity? This is a good time for children to work on a STEM problem that's already been introduced and needs more time, or one with easy directions, since the teacher is unavailable during this time.

Looking for some ideas on organizing these math activities?

Try this link!

Looking for some similar ideas for reading groups? Try this link!

What do your students do while you're teaching math groups?

Who Might Benefit From Team-Building Exercises?

I've always used team-building activities in my classroom. My dad was a football coach. Of course team building was important to him! I've taught theatre to children. Yes, we used team-building exercises as part of our program. In fact, I've been in a lot of plays and musicals. (Yes, I sing and dance, in my spare time.) We often start each rehearsal with a team-building activity. 

Team-building exercises can benefit a wide range of groups across various contexts: 

Nonprofit Organizations: Teams working within nonprofit organizations can use team building exercises to enhance cohesion, increase motivation, and align efforts toward achieving the organizations mission.

Educational Institutions: Student groups, faculty teams, or administrative staff within schools and universities can benefit from team building exercises to foster a positive learning environment, enhance teamwork skills, and improve academic outcomes.

Healthcare Teams: Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and support staff, can benefit from team building exercises to improve patient care, strengthen interdepartmental relationships, and reduce workplace stress.

Sports Teams: Athletic teams, whether amateur or professional, can use team building exercises to enhance teamwork, trust, and communication among teammates, leading to improved performance on the field or court.

Community Groups: Volunteer organizations, neighborhood associations, or community service groups can utilize team building exercises to strengthen relationships, increase engagement, and improve collective problem-solving abilities.

Project-Based Teams: Teams working on specific projects, whether temporary or ongoing, can use team building exercises to establish clear roles and responsibilities, improve coordination, and boost morale throughout the project lifecycle.

Family or Social Groups: Even informal groups such as families, friends or social clubs can benefit from team building activities to strengthen bonds, improve communication, and create memorable shared experiences.

Overall, any group that relies on collaboration, communication, and mutual support to achieve common goals can benefit from team building exercises tailored to their specific needs and dynamics.

So, as classroom teachers, how can we help build these important life skills?

We build these skills with team building activitiies!

Try these: 60 Team Building Games and Activities to Build Classroom Community 

or try these blog posts for more information about team building:

Why encourage team building in the elementary classroom?

Six Ways to Integrate Team Building into Your Curriculum

How do you encorporate team building activities into your classroom?

Ten Activities to Keep Them Engaged!

As elementary teachers, one of our biggest challenges is to keep our students engaged in the learning process!

Capturing the attention of the students is not always easy. But children are naturally curious and have that infectious enthusiasm. Here are ten ways to help capture their attention, making learning fun and memorable!

Books!

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3. The right books can capture their attention and their hearts! I am committed to reading at least one picture book (or a chapter) to my students every day. Sometimes the book is related to something I'm teaching, and sometimes it is just to bring out the joy in books. See the image for a link to 10 of my favorites!

Educational Games!

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2. Integrating educational games into your lessons makes learning more enjoyable. Whether it's math bingo, spelling races, or science jeopardy, games provide a hands-on approach to learning and reinforce important concepts. Plus, they're fun, which means children will want to play them over and over! See the image for more about learning games:

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   Hands-On Science Experiments!

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   Bring science to life by conducting simple, hands-on experiments. From creating a volcano eruption to exploring the properties of magnets, these activities not only make science more tangible but also stimulate students' natural curiosity. These monthly sets are a great source of science experiments:

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   Themed Days!

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5. As much as children need consistency and routine, they also need novelty. Infuse excitement into the classroom by organizing themed days. Whether it's a historical era, a cultural celebration, or a scientific exploration, themed days allow students to delve deeply into a topic and make connections across different subjects. See the image for more about novelty.
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   Outdoor Learning!

1. Take the classroom outdoors! Plan nature walks, scavenger hunts, or even simple math games on the playground. The change of scenery can rejuvenate both students and teachers, making learning a breath of fresh air. See the image to read more about getting them outdoors

Integrate the Arts!

1. Incorporate the arts into your lessons to tap into students' creativity. Whether it's drawing, painting, crafting, or even singing or drama, the arts not only reinforce lessons but also provide a creative outlet for self-expression.

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3. Guest Speakers or Virtual Tours!

1. Arrange for guest speakers to share their expertise or take virtual field trips. These experiences broaden students' perspectives and connect classroom learning to the real world, making lessons more relevant and engaging. Parents of students can be a great resource for guest speakers, and virtual field trips are easily accessible through Google!

Classroom Puzzles and Brain Teasers!

Stimulate critical thinking by introducing puzzles and brain teasers. These activities encourage problem-solving skills and perseverance, while also making learning enjoyable and challenging. Don't they just love word finds and crossword puzzles?

Role-Playing and Drama!

1. Incorporate role-playing and drama activities to make learning more immersive. Whether reenacting historical events or performing a play related to the curriculum, these activities allow students to embody what they've learned. See the image for more about dramatics in the classroom.

Student-Led Projects!

1. Empower students by allowing them to take the lead in projects. Whether it's creating a class newspaper, organizing a STEM project, or planning a cultural exhibition, student-led projects foster collaboration, responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment.

What do you think of these ten ideas?

What could you add to this list?