Today we are blogging about Chapters one and two in the book Guided Math in Action written by Dr. Nicki Newton. If you do not have this book and would like to add it to your resource library, click on the link below!!!
As I read this chapter, I was having so many Aha moments I wouldn't even be able to document them all. Math is one of those subjects that many people have a fixed mindset about. They think they can either do it or not do it and that is dependent on whether or not they were born with that "Math" gene.
But we as educators know that anybody can learn Math, it is how we teach it that determines their success. I love how she talks about stretching our own Pedagogy. On page 11, Dr. Nicki defines this as the following: " Teachers reflect on their usual practice, take notes about what is working and what is not working, and then stretch out of their own zones of comfort in order to devise new and engaging ways to help everyone learn." She states that we have to use a variety of strategies not just the ones we know and are comfortable with!!!!
This chapter is describing to us what the Guided Math Block is made up of! There are several parts of the Guided Math Block.
If you would like this cheat sheet just click on it to download!
I will have to say, I love Number Talks! They are my absolute favorite part of the math lesson! I love making it rigorous and watching them go through the productive struggle and their faces when they solve what they thought was an impossible task!
My other favorite part is the Share or the Math Huddle as I call it. This is when I get to listen to them share what they learned and what they did. I love listening to them and their excitement about what they did that day in Math!
At first no they do not. They have that fixed mindset where they are either able to do or they can not do it. If they fail one time, they say they can't. Especially the class I just had. Oh My!!! They would constantly say we can't do Math. They would groan when they knew it was time for Math. But after I used this and taught them growth mindset, their abilities flourished and they did it! They would look forward to the productive struggle and always had a positive attitude!
It is all about their mindset, how we treat them and our instruction!
I pair them up with another student. I encourage them and tell them they can do it. I will break it down into smaller portions. I will take them to the side and help them.
All they need to know is that you believe in them, you encourage them and that you care. Through Growth mindset, they learn about the DIP and how we all get there. it is through determination and many mistakes that we overcome it and succeed! be there for them and they will succeed!!!
At first, not really. They are shy and scared. But after we do them for awhile and they see that there are no right or wrong answers just different ways of thinking, then they all begin to participate! I think it is important for them to talk about math. This is when they can learn a new way, see that others are having the same difficulties as they are and that there are more then one way to answer a question or solve a problem!
I am a growth mindset junkie!!!!! I am constantly teaching them about the power of YET! I can't do it Yet! This really makes an impression on them and they will work through it until they get it. Encourage, encourage encourage!!!!! I share with them all the times I have had to work hard to succeed or finish a task and they love it when you share personal experiences with them! It is the environment of your classroom that promotes perseverance. If you encourage risk taking and create a safe environment then the students will persevere and be successful!
First, what is a numerate environment? This is an environment in which the children are exposed to math- they are talking about it, writing about it, they are doing it! They take risks and they love the productive struggle. They encourage each other to keep going and they Prove or Show their thinking!
This chapter takes the elements of Math Workshop and it goes into more detail!
Remember, there needs to be anchor charts and reference materials in your room so students can refer to them when they need to.
One thing I did like was how she had the students work during Math Workshop. When it was time to make the switch, the children did not get up and move. The leader went and got the next activity for their group. I like this. This cuts down on wasted instructional time. the only group that moves are the ones that are meeting with the teacher! What a great way to save valuable time! Something we do not have a lot to begin with!!
During Number Talks and Calendar time. i allow them to represent the numbers in as many ways as they can. They love this time. Another time is during Math Journals. Here they are writing what they think! There are also some math centers that I give them where I just give them the number and they need to share what they know and what they can do!
When I launch my units, I use many different methods. I will use vocabulary, smart board lessons, music, hands on activities, movement activities, childrens' literature, just ask them what do they know, craftivities, and the list goes on. My goal is that I tap into the mind of every learner in my classroom. To do this, I sit down when planning and think of all of my kids and then I use the strategies that are going to reach them all. I never use just 1 strategy because 1 strategy will not reach all of my learners.
We always meet at the end in our Math Huddle! This is when we come back to the carpet and share what we did, what we learned, what still puzzles us and any other observations or ideas about the Math Workshop we want to share. I love this time of day!!! We have our Math AHA Moment Journal that I will write in. The kids all have their own Math Journals they write in daily but on Fridays, we as a class sum up our week and write about it in our AHA Moment Math Journal.
Click on the picture below to download our journal to use in your class room!
I just want to share one more quote from these chapters with you! The focus is always on those learners who are having difficulty but we must remember this:
Remember to meet with all of your groups! The experts still need you!!!
Here is the schedule of our book study! Please join us and please visit our facebook page to make comments and follow along as well!! Click below to go to our facebook page!
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Please check our my co hosts blogs to read about what they thought about these chapters!
