Math Workshop Ideas and Implementation- FREEBIES

So... is everyone beginning to gear up for "Back to School" time?

I've had a chance to get into my classroom a little this week.

So far ALL of my boxes are unpacked.  

Now I'm ready to spruce  up the different areas of my classroom, and work on those bulletin board displays.

My Math Workshop Rotation area was first on my list.

Here's  a picture of the finished product.

I had created a chalkboard themed Math Center rotation to use in my classroom.  It was a Facebook Fan Freebie a couple of weeks ago.  You can download it from Google Docs for a limited time by clicking the picture below.

The wire shelving that you see in the picture is where I plan to keep the weekly math center supplies and storage caddies.  This should make it easy for my students to access and put things away.

I also created labels for this wire shelving that matches the Math Center Rotation Board.

You can download these for free from my TPT store by clicking on the picture below.

How I implemented math workshop in my 3rd grade classroom:

1.  I put students into 4 groups.  I tried to group students according to their different math levels and ability.  I used the STAR math test that our students must take 3 times a year to help me with grouping students.  There were times throughout the year that I would move students around to have math groups with mixed levels and abilities.  This worked well when we were reviewing for a big test or participating in some holiday types of math workshop activities.  

2.  I used math workshop 2 times a week in my 3rd grade classroom.  I would love to use it more, but I felt like I needed to use my math block for more teacher directed practice, and then independent and group practice of the same concept.  I just didn't feel like my 3rd graders were ready to use math workshop everyday.  

At the beginning of last year, I did use math workshop each day.  Students would go to 1 of the stations for about 15 minutes.  Then they would go to the next station the following day.  I didn't like the flow of this with my 3rd graders and instead implemented a 40 minute math workshop block 2 times  a week.  Generally, I used 2 days in which I had an hour and 10 minutes for math.  I spent the first 30 minutes on direct math instruction with  my kiddos, and then the last 40 was with math workshop.  Each station was about 10 minutes.

  My Math workshop included:

M- Math Facts

This was such a TREMENDOUS help for my students.  

We don't always have time to practice math facts, and this part of the workshop was fabulous for my kiddos.

Some of the items I used with this aspect of the workshop was:

1. computer games on math facts

2. IPAD games on math facts

3.  Games that use a deck of cards to practice math facts.

Scholastic has 7 games that are great for math fact practice with using a deck of cards.  Click HERE to check it out.

Hip Hip Hooray Magazine Math also has some amazing ideas for practicing math facts and includes lots of free printable kits for addition, subtraction, and multiplication.  You can click HERE to check this out.

A- At Your Seat

This part of the workshop varied depending on the needs of each group.

There were times that this may be a worksheet that practiced a skill we were working on that day in class.

There were times, that I used the math bump games that I found on TPT.  Sunny Days has some fabulous,FREE seasonal BUMP games in her TPT store. 

I've also used Math Boggle in this area also. It was called " Math It UP"

It works the same as Boggle but with numbers.  This was great because students might have to add 3 columns of even numbers, or add 2 digit numbers, subtract, and etc.  I found a FREE Math It UP  from Madison's TPT store.  Click Here to access this free game.

I also used math task cards in this area.

T- Teacher Time

This was my FAVORITE part of math workshop.  This was my opportunity to work with each group on concepts they may be having trouble with or just extra practice.  I used this time when working with my students who were functioning at a high level in 3rd grade math to challenge them.  They loved this challenge.

H-Hands On

This part of the workshop was where I had many math games or math activities that used manipulatives.  I even tried to use some different math activities that incorporated food in this part of the workshop.

Click HERE for a FREE Skittle's Math activity from Sabrina LaBlond.

Click HERE to access the free math and writing Skittle's activity from Cindy Conley.

4. Storage of Math Workshop Items

I quickly found out last year that I needed an organized way to keep all of my materials for math workshop.  I began purchasing storage containers and labeling them according to the math concept we were working on.  

5.  I also created several math workshop units that are aligned to the Common Core to use in my math workshop rotation.  I've listed them below.  If you would like to find out more information about each one, just click on the picture.  I'm having a FLASH SALE on them through Friday, July 12.  You can get them for 30% off.

I created a Pinterest board that is all about Math Workshop Ideas and Resources.  I plan to continue to add more things as I come across them.  You can check it out by clicking HERE.

If you use Math Workshop in your classroom, I would love to hear about how you implement it and some of your favorite activities to use in the workshop.

Have a great week everyone!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Monday Made It- Math FREEBIES

Happy July 1st everyone!

I'm linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for another Monday Made It.

I just love these Monday Made It's, don't you?

 This week my Monday Made It's are all math themed.

School begins August 13th in my district, but our building has already had its summer cleaning, Teachers can now go in to prepare their classrooms.  Woot!  Woot!  

I like to S-L-O-W-L-Y prepare my classroom for the new school year.  I just go in for a few hours once or twice a week and work on a particular area.  This week I hope to work on my Math Centers/Workshop area along with its storage. So I spent this time creating items I plan on using in this area.  I hope to have pictures posted by the end of the week of this area.

1.  FREE Chalkboard Math tub labels

I purchased several plastic 12 qt tubs to store my math items in that I use with math workshop.  This helps me keep everything in one organized place.  I created labels to attach to these containers.  You can grab them for FREE by clicking HERE or on the picture below.

2.  MATH Workshop Storage Posters-Chalkboard style

I mentioned in Friday's post that I had purchased these wire storage crates below from Amazon.  I created math storage posters to hang above each crate and on the baskets that hold the materials for math workshop for each particular day.

You can check out how I plan to use these posters HERE.

You can download these posters for FREE by clicking HERE or on the picture above.

3. Math Centers Board- Chalkboard Style

I used math centers/workshop last year with my 3rd graders.  I implemented this 2 days a week, and LOVED it.  I wanted to revamp my math  board using the chalkboard style.  I kept all of my math labels, math posters, and math centers board matching this particular style.

I don't have any good pictures yet of my board, but tried to lay everything out on my kitchen counter at home so that you could see how I set up this rotation.  I also made chalkboard bunting that says "Math Workshop" to place above my math board.

I apologize for the poor quality of these photos.

You can download this math centers board for FREE.  You can find it on my Facebook Fan Page.  Just click on the blue tab that says "For You".  This will be available for only a very short time.

4.  I also copied and laminated my Back to School Math Workshop Activities for 3rd grade. 

You can find out more about this unit by clicking HERE.

Have a great week everyone!  Don't forget to click on the Monday Made It linky button above to check out everyone's fabulous ideas. I hope to post pics soon of my math workshop area and how I implement this in my 3rd grade classroom.  Check back tomorrow to find out the winner(s) of the Bloglovin' Giveaway. 

Five for Friday, Math Workshop Storage FREEBIE, and a SALE

Hi Dear Friends!

Happy Friday!  My principal just sent me our faculty an email and in it was a reminder that new school year begins in just a little over 6 more weeks.  Yikes!  I've been enjoying my summer way too much.

This summer  I have been able to spend a lot of time with my sweet kiddos, and late nights working on teacher related things.

I couldn't wait to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for another edition of:

1. Back to School Math Workshop

I finished up my Back To School Math Workshop for third grade. I can't wait to use this with my students at the beginning of the school year.  It's a great way for them to start the year working together and reviewing those standards from last year.  This unit includes 4 workshop/task card activities that review the second grade Common Core Standards.  Also included are 4 worksheets to that review the standards as well.  This unit includes a teacher guide that has suggestions on different ways to implement this in your classroom at the beginning of the school year.

The activities included are: 

Counting Money at the Lemonade Stand

What's Popping with Addition and Subtraction

Bubble Gum Numbers

It's Time for Cupcakes

Worksheets

If you are interested in finding out more, click on the link HERE, or click on any of the pictures above.  This unit is part of my TPT sale that is going on now through July 1.

2.  Wire shelving for my math workshop

I found this awesome idea for storing my math workshop items on Pinterest.  Here's the photo and simply click on it to check out the link.

I thought this would work perfectly under my Math Workshop Rotation Board.  So I was on the hunt for wire shelving, I found these from Amazon.  I ordered 2 of them.

Just click on the photo above to find out more about these on Amazon.com.

3.  Math Posters for Math Workshop Storage

I created math posters to be placed on the wire shelving.  I use the MATH acronym for math workshop which is:  Math facts,  At your seat, Teacher time, and Hands-on.  I also created 4 small posters to be placed on the small plastic baskets that are above the wire shelving.  These baskets include the materials that the students need for that particular day's rotation.  You can snag these posters for FREE from my TPT store.  Simply click HERE or the picture above.

4. TPT Sale

I'm having a 20% off sale at my TPT store through July 1.  

Click HERE to check out my TPT store.

5. Bloglovin' Giveaway

If you haven't entered, you still have time.  I'm giving away a $25.00 gift certificate and 2 items of winner's choice from my TPT store to one winner.  The runner-up will receive 2 items of his/her choice from my TPT store.  Just click HERE or on the picture above to enter this giveaway. The winners will be announced on July 2.  The giveaway ends at midnight on July 1.

Have a great weekend!

Division Fun and a FREEBIE

Hi Sweet Friends!

We are wrapping up our last full week of school!  My oh my has this school year flown by!

In math we are wrapping up our study of division.  I know it seems a little out of order since we worked on multiplication last Fall and are learning more about division at the end of the year.   Our state testing in early March is heavy on geometry, measurement, and fractions so I try to get that out of the way before I ever begin division with my sweet 3rd graders.

My students have been LOVING all of our activities on division.

1. Division Games

Listed below are a few division games that I have either used on the Promethean board for whole class or on the computers for station time.

I found Mr. Nussbaum's Learning and Fun site that has reference to many division games that  work well on our classroom IPAD.  Click Here for the link.

Number Eaters- this was great division practice for my students and used the vocabulary of quotient

Skater Math was another favorite of my students.

AND

Demolition Division 

2. Picture books to use with Division

This book is perfect to read when introducing a division unit.

3. Dividing with Food

We've also been using lots of food to help learn the concept of division and division with remainders.

Check these out!

Divide and Conquer with Skittles

Fishing for Remainders

4. Division lap books

5.  Division Task Cards

I use them for "Scoot".

It was a beautiful day, so my students completed their Division Review task card activity outside.

Many of the activities listed above can be found in my newest math unit " Divide It".  It can be purchased as a bundle which includes 101 pages of games, worksheets, food activities, task cards,  assessment , and lap book all aligned to the Common Core.  The Divide It lapbook can be purchased separately as well as the Divide It Unit which includes everything but the lap book. 

To find out more click on each of the links below.
Divide It! Division Unit aligned to the CCCS
Divide It! A Division Lap book
Divide It! Division Unit aligned to the CCCS *Bundle* includes lap book

AND for a freebie that is part of this unit, here is the I HAVE/WHO Has Division Activity.  Click HERE to be taken this free download from TPT.  I divided my students into two groups to complete this fun activity.

Enjoy your week!!  Thank you so much for stopping by!