Math Daily Five Plan

Click here to join.

I have decided to implement Guided Math with The Math Daily Five in my classroom this year.  The process features cooperative learning, provides more hands-on opportunities, and allows me to differentiate by learning styles and abilities.  Added benefits are that it promotes "math talk" while the students are focused and engaged.  I also want to include a Math Journal component because I believe that writing about math is very important to building metacognition to enhance problem solving abilities.  Finally, it allows me to check-in with every student every day, which I love!


This is my "plan".  Since I'm doing this for the first time, I'm sure I will need to adapt.  But this plan represents what will work for me, while including curriculum components that my district requires. 


I prefer the size of my groups to be no more that 5.  With 22 students, I will have 5 groups of 4-5 students.  One of the groups will be my "at risk" group.  


Here are my "five" stations.


Station 1 - Meet with Teacher   This meeting will really help me keep a handle on what each student needs to be successful.  My district requires that I meet with "at-risk" students everyday, and Guided Math helps me build that time into our schedule while the remainder of the class is engaged.   


Station 2 - Fact Fluency   This is also a district requirement. (I'm using Kim Sutton's Math Fluency 10 Block Cycle).


Station 3 - Math Journals  Each group will have a folder where I will place their prompt on a label. This will allow me to choose a prompt that will support the group's goals.  


Station 4 - Technology   My school subscribes to a web-based program called First in Math.  It covers all Math concepts and allows me to track each student's progress.  I plan to assign components that our related to our current lesson.    


Station 5 - Teacher's Choice  I like to leave a little flexibility in one of the stations.  If I name it "something", the kids will hold me to it.  I'm sure some activities will be more popular that others, so I may use this as motivation.  Also, I may use the choice as a reward for a group if they meet a goals.  I envision this station having games, math literature, logic puzzles, hands-on math, real world math, etc.  


The Math Daily 5 will be Monday through Thursday.  Friday will be Assessment day, Math journal review, and Math Tiles (with parent volunteers).   


Procedures must be established and practiced for Guided Math to be successful.   The first thing I will do is create a set of expectations with the students' input.  This is something we can review if need be.  


I am so excited about this and hope you will share your experience or your plan!  



p.s.  Sending a big "Thank You!" to 

Mrs. Thiering at The Frizz in First Grade and 

Carrie at The First Grade Derby 

for nominating me for the Lovely Blog and Versatile Blogger Awards!  Although I've been previously nominated, I feel blessed every day I that my blog has visitors!  What's a blog without an audience!  =  )