Sunday, September 21, 2014

Daily 3 for Math!

Hard to believe that the first quarter of school is half over!  Time is flying by so quickly!  The students are in a great routine, have been using and showing Cadet Pride throughout the building, and we are off to a great start to the school year.

In math we are working through the first unit focusing on patterns in number grids, telling time, determining differences, and calculator routines.  This year, I am setting up the structure of math time similar to the Daily 5 in literacy but students are selecting activities through the Daily 3.  The set up is something like this:
1. Begin together as large class to review a concept or introduce a new concept.
2.  Students select from "Math by Myself", "Math with Someone" or "Math Technology" while the teacher works with small groups focusing on skill or math strategy.  The activities in each of the three choices above have been selected and modeled to the students to build on math skills we are currently focusing on or to enrich the curriculum.
3.  Gather back together as large group to have guided practice with new skill or math strategy.
4.  Students select new choice activity from those mentioned above (can not be the same as first selection) while teacher works with different small group of students.
5.  Gather back together as large group to reinforce, practice, and question focused skill or strategy.
6.  If time, have a final choice in activities above (usually we do not get to this stop and wrap it up after step 5)

The three choices throughout the math period between instruction or when not with teacher are:
Math By Myself
Math with Someone
Math Technology 

This is new to how math was usually taught and I have to say, I love it!  I feel I can focus more on individual students' strengths and weaknesses while moving through the necessary curriculum for math.  The students also are more engaged in this format due to having some "choice" in their activities.  

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