Math Work Stations ~ Chapter 1

What is a Math Work Station? (Random Notes and Personal Thoughts)

• Talk about patterns daily during calendar time, choose a variety of things, clothing, weather, anything.  Idea: Line up students in a pattern and ask the students to figure out the secret pattern.  Ask "Do you notice a pattern?".  Overtime start to extending the pattern, then move to number patterns. DON'T DROP CONCEPTS. My bad habit, I move on to soon.
• Use the term math stations not math centers.
• Math stations should be 30 minutes, 15 minute stations.  This way you can meet with two small groups.  Everyone needs to go to stations.
• At the end of math station time lead a discussion. Ask: What did you do? What did you explore? 
• 2 students per station
• Put more than one item activity in the station for fast finishers. 
• Create the stations on what you have taught, not stuff you buy.
• Use items that you teach with, example books. 
• Introduce a concept, teach it, review it, then develop a station.
• Worksheets are not stations, but you can use good ones as part of the activity, no assessment.
• Create directions that have words and pictures.  Also include vocabulary terms.
• Introduce one station at a time and model everything, assessments do not have to be worksheets.  I have been way to heavy with worksheets in math! You should see my pile of possible worksheets to use. Not good.
• Differentiate.  I think she means create leveled activities with a system like blue high, green on level, and purple low.  She just touched on it.