Saving My Sanity AND Math Stations!
I'm going to break some news to you. Are you ready for it???
Life isn't always rainbows and unicorns in my classroom.
Shocked??!! I know it's hard to believe, but my students... they aren't perfect. As much as I try...I'm not perfect. Sometimes I like to think I live in a perfect world, but in reality, I don't. I have to restructure and change things up quite often. I am not someone who keeps on doing something even if it's not working. I'll pull the plug on a lesson, routine, or activity in a heartbeat if I don't think it's best for my kiddos. Last week I really wanted to throw in the towel with math stations. My kids weren't working to their potential, our focus was gone, and we weren't accomplishing much. However, I truly do believe in math stations, so I thought I would try a few things before I pulled the plug completely.
First of all, I changed up the math station focus for the next two weeks. Normally, I'll have a wide variety of skills going on... comparing numbers, fact fluency, graphing, skip counting, shapes, time, money, etc. But, I wanted MOST of my stations to focus on regrouping. I did throw in two other concepts just so my students wouldn't get bored. So, here's what my stations are for the week: 1. Spin and Add 2. Frosty Addition 3. Regrouping True/False 4. Sorting regrouping/not regrouping 5. Spin and Skip Count 6. Spin and Add/Subtract
Now, let's talk about how I am motivating my students to finish their first job. This was the main problem after Christmas break. They were playing so much that they weren't completing their work. Or, I would have 1-2 sets of partners that finished super fast, while the others just stared aimlessly around the room. So, I came up with a little motivation chart.
This chart is NOT fancy by any means... it doesn't even have clipart on it... say what??!! Sometimes life gets busy and I don't even have time to make things cute #truth #sadday. I made a quick chart that listed our 9 stations... 6 of which are math tubs, 2 rotations visit the iPad, and 1 rotation visits my Smart Board. I stapled these charts to the front cover of their math spirals. When they are at stations, the charts are sitting on their desks. I don't give a stamp/sticker/check mark until the very end of our math station block. So, they have to complete their math station (or at least work the entire time), stay focused, and clean up all without me having to give even a warning. Once we have completed this set of math station rotations, I will do an extra recess for the kids that have 9 happy boxes!! Today I had 2 students that didn't earn a stamp, so they will get time deducted from the extra recess. This may sound harsh, but as I learned at RCA... not everybody gets a cookie! You have to EARN rewards!!
This chart is NOT fancy by any means... it doesn't even have clipart on it... say what??!! Sometimes life gets busy and I don't even have time to make things cute #truth #sadday. I made a quick chart that listed our 9 stations... 6 of which are math tubs, 2 rotations visit the iPad, and 1 rotation visits my Smart Board. I stapled these charts to the front cover of their math spirals. When they are at stations, the charts are sitting on their desks. I don't give a stamp/sticker/check mark until the very end of our math station block. So, they have to complete their math station (or at least work the entire time), stay focused, and clean up all without me having to give even a warning. Once we have completed this set of math station rotations, I will do an extra recess for the kids that have 9 happy boxes!! Today I had 2 students that didn't earn a stamp, so they will get time deducted from the extra recess. This may sound harsh, but as I learned at RCA... not everybody gets a cookie! You have to EARN rewards!!
I also changed up my early finisher activities. Students who finish early can go to www.abcya.com to play math games, or they can pick from a variety of QR code cards. I found this GREAT TpT seller (Kristin Kennedy) who has tons of QR activities to choose from. They are a little more motivating since the students get to scan the cards! I only have 2 computers, so once those are taken the other students have to choose from a different activity. Oh, and I let my students use my cell phone to scan the QR codes since my iPads are being used at the time.
It probably seems complicated, but let me break it down... 1. The stations have a more focused skill 2. Students have a chart to earn extra recess
3. Students can choose from more engaging activities once they are done when their initial station
Also, I use Smart Pals and Expo markers for the recording sheets. I do NOT make copies for individual student use. It was just such a waste of paper for me, especially since I don't take grades on math stations. AND, my students work in partners to complete the station. They work together, write together, and are both responsible for the learning. Since my kids are constantly working in partners, it just makes sense to transfer that into my math station block :)
So, there's hope. Math stations went 100 times better today. Sometimes we just have to monitor and adjust when necessary!
It probably seems complicated, but let me break it down... 1. The stations have a more focused skill 2. Students have a chart to earn extra recess
3. Students can choose from more engaging activities once they are done when their initial station
Also, I use Smart Pals and Expo markers for the recording sheets. I do NOT make copies for individual student use. It was just such a waste of paper for me, especially since I don't take grades on math stations. AND, my students work in partners to complete the station. They work together, write together, and are both responsible for the learning. Since my kids are constantly working in partners, it just makes sense to transfer that into my math station block :)
So, there's hope. Math stations went 100 times better today. Sometimes we just have to monitor and adjust when necessary!
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