WHAT ARE MATH WORK STATIONS?
“Areas within the classroom where students work
with a partner and use instructional materials to
explore and expand their mathematical thinking.”
-From Math Work Stations:
Independent Learning You
Can Count On, K-2 by
Debbie Diller
WORK STATIONS:
MEASURING LENGTH
Anchor Chart: Chart created by the teacher
and students to support student as they talk
about their math learning using appropriate
math vocabulary.
What words could we put on an anchor chart
about measuring length?
How Far Can You Go?
WHAT WOULD YOUR STUDENTS GET
OUT OF THIS STATION?
DISCUSS WITH YOUR GROUP
WHY USE MATH WORK STATIONS?
• Independent practice
• Highly engaging/motivating
• Frees teacher to observe student
thinking/take anecdotal notes
• Meet with differentiated small groups
WHY USE MATH WORK STATIONS?
• Encourage problem solving
• Efficient use of time
• Increase math talk and student
communication
• Differentiation
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
STORY PROBLEM MATS
• Materials:
• Seasonal mat: Forest, Heart, Snow Scene,
Pond, Beach, etc.
• Manipulative: sequins, punch outs, erasers,
• Paper
• Crayons
• Pencil
STORY PROBLEM MATS
Students place the manipulatives on the mat
and create a story problem about them.
STORY PROBLEM MATS
Four frogs are in the pond. Two frogs are
outside of the pond. How many frogs in all?
STORY PROBLEM MATS
The student will share the story problem with
their partner for them to solve.
STORY PROBLEM MATS
The student then records their picture and/or
story problem on the paper provided.
STORY PROBLEM MATS
If appropriate, students can also write the
number sentence (equation) that goes with
the problem.
MATH TUBBING:
9 WEEK ROTATION MODEL
• Children rotate through 9 tubs in groups of two
or three independently.
• The teacher “floats” around the room to met,
talk and question with each group.
• In my classroom we did a rotation every Friday.
• We spent approximately 25 minutes at the
tubs and 20 minutes for math talk.
OTHER WAYS TO INCORPORATE
MATH STATIONS
• Start small – do stations once a week
• Have permanent stations to re-enforce difficult
concepts (change manipulatives to keep fresh)
• Use multiple copies of station
• Organize stations by concepts
• Do seasonal stations
MATERIALS AND ORGANIZATION
Start with spring/summer cleaning
Use Julie Morgenstern’s “Organizing From the
Inside Out” (2004)
-Sort
-Purge
-Assign a Home
- Containerize
- Equalize
SET UP A CLASSROOM MATH
CORNER
• Place for station tubs
• Math Manipulatives needed for first nine
weeks
• Paper, writing tools
• Dry erase boards and markers
PLACE VALUE STATION
Teen Match Up
NUMBER SENSE STATION
Five Frame Fun
YOUR ROLE AS TEACHER
• Teachers as a facilitator – Use guiding
questions to access student thinking
• Teacher as an observer – Circulate through
classroom listening and taking notes on each
student
• Work with differentiated small groups
GEOMETRY:
PATTERN BLOCKS
HOW CAN YOU DIFFERENTIATE
THROUGH WORK STATIONS?
DIFFERENTIATING STATIONS
• Change numbers to match students’ needs (Bags of
different numbers can be coded by colored stickers
for different students.)
• Focus on strategies or fluency according to students’
needs
• Adapt station activities to focus on numbers 1-20 for
those who need it. Ex. Cut hundreds chart with just 120 showing as visual reference
• Encourage use of anchor charts
KEEPING IT FRESH
•
•
•
•
Vary materials to keep interest high
Have students create books (Ex. “Our Favorite
Numbers” or “How Many?”) and keep them in centers
for students to reread. Students can create numbers
using manipulatives
Develop stations that combine geometry and
measurement throughout the year. Ex. How many
rectangles will cover your desk? Estimate and
measure
Increase difficulty of puzzles
KINDERGARTEN CONSIDERATIONS
• Consider development when sequencing activities
• Take time to teach kindergartners to form numerals
• Focus much of work around “friendly” numbers 5 and
10
• Linking calendar activities with work stations provides
opportunities for modeling and independent work
• Connect concepts to everyday activities
MAKE AND TAKE
Brainstorm with your table-mates ideas
for work stations using your given
strand.
MAKE AND TAKE
Using your materials, design a math work station to take
back to your classroom and use with your students.
Include:
• “I Can” instructions
• Materials
• Activity
• Teacher questions
• Ideas for differentiation