Back in September, I wrote about how I’m including a math menu board as part of my guided math time.
I wanted to make a little video update to explain my set-up for guided math. If something isn’t clear in the video and you want to know more, please feel free to ask a question! Thanks for watching!
Happy Teaching!
You can download an editable Publisher copy of my menu board and edit as needed:
This is AWESOME! Thank you for taking the time to do this video!!! 💕💕💕
You're welcome!! Thanks so much for reading 🙂
That was excellent. I pretty much do everything as you do, except:
I do spiral and my lesson whole-group takes about 15-20 mins
I prefer to leave the enrichment open ended (no answer key) and
I like the choice board to be on the second half of the time (45 min)
You are so lucky to have another teacher come in.
I really like the idea of officially designating the coaches as a choice on the board and the tags are really nice.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reading!!
Do you have a template of your math menu? I would love to implement something like this next year in my 7th grade math class! Thanks!
Hi! I attached a downloadable version 🙂 You will need Microsoft Publisher to edit. Thanks for reading!!
Thanks so much!!
Great ideas!! Any pointers on implementing these ideas to a 45 minute period?
Hi Leah! So, here are my thoughts for a 45-minute period…
1.) Do you have a flexible pacing guide, or are you teaching a new lesson each day? If you have some flexibility, maybe you could teach the lesson on one day, and then do small groups the next day? That would mean spending two periods on one lesson… not sure if your pacing guide allows for that!
2.) If you are teaching a lesson per day, maybe you could make this schedule work:
*Do-Now or Warm-Up activity (5 minutes)
*Teach your math lesson to the whole class (15 minutes)
*Guided Math Groups/Independent Practice (20 minutes)
*Wrap-Up/Exit Ticket (5 minutes)
This schedule would be tight, but I think it could be doable!
Best of luck to you and thanks for reading!
I am a 2nd year middle school math teacher who will be on a block schedule this year. I am so excited I found your site.
Thanks so much for reading!
This is great! I do have a question though. How come you choose to do the stations before your lesson instead of after?
Tonya
Tonya’s Treats for Teachers
I don't have publisher:( Is there another way to get your menu board?
Hi Tonya… So I do my small groups before my lesson because that's when the intervention comes. My block is 90 minutes long, but her schedule only allows for her to be there for the first 45 minutes. I'd rather do stations last, but first is all my schedule allows. Hope that helps!
Unfortunately, Publisher is the only file that I have the menu board available in… I don't have Adobe Pro, so I can't make an editable PDF. If I get some time, I'll see if I can convert it to Word.
Thanks so much for reading!!
Yes! That helps! I was curious on your reasoning for it:) Thanks SO much!
I would really like to view your menu board but am unable to without publisher. Do you have it in another format? I have 365 through work but it doesn't offer publisher. Let me know. I am very inspired by your site!
This is fantastic! I am teaching a 2nd/3rd grade combo class and a version of this would be such an effective use of time! Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you for sharing! I am implementing stations/guided math this year for 6 & 7. I would also love a word formatted document because I don't have publisher.
Could you describe what a "Show Me" is?Sounds fun!
Hi! It's an interactive whiteboard app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/showme-interactive-whiteboard/id445066279?mt=8
I am trying to come up with a way to run 2 math classes at the same time. I have students who range from 3rd grade level to 7th, so I am trying to figure out how to have one group move at a much slower pace. I have 60-70 minute class periods. Do you have any thoughts? I really like your ideas.
Hi! So, are you teaching the same curriculum to all the students or do you have to teach several curriculums at once?
Yes and no. Technically all the students are seventh grade but half are at the fifth grade level or lower. I have taken the seventh grade standards and simplified them so that I could also teach a lot of number sense for the low kids. The students who are on level would stick with seventh grade standards.
Okay… so in a 60-minute class period, I'd do the following:
5 min: Do Now
20 min: Whole-class lesson and Guided Practice (I'd be teaching from the 7th grade standards since they are all technically 7th graders).
30 min: Independent Practice and Small Groups – I'd break the kids into three tiers… the top tier should be the most independent. Give them an assignment, let them work together, and give them an answer key to check themselves when they are finished. If they struggle, they need to ask a friend or record their question to ask you later. Once their work is finished, they can work on an anchor activity (see the menu board that I talk about). Middle group will do the same, though you may wish to modify their work slightly. Then, you are free to work with lowest group in a guided math group.
Guided Math lesson (30 minutes):
10 minutes: fact fluency or spiral review
15 minutes: reteach whole group lesson and guide them through some practice problems.
5 minutes: preview tomorrow's lesson
Last 5-10 minutes: check in with high and mid-tier groups to answer any questions they had on the day's independent practice.
How does that sound?
I am going to have to spend some time thinking about it. It sound like it might be doable. My only concern is that the school has already taken most of the high kids and put them in an honors group. Half of my students (10-12) are low, fourth or fifth grade level. I also have 2 or 3 at the 2nd or 3rd grade level. Thank you for the suggestion. I will share it with my colleagues and see what they think. 🙂