Math Questions ~ Sharing Time

This blog has been such a learning experience.  I have found a whole new world of knowledge and experiences.  I promised to type up Debbie Diller's questions, she suggested using after Math stations to reenforce the learning the students just did and to learn from the students of what things need to be adjusted in the stations in the last blog I wrote.  To do so I had to investigate google documents and pdf files. WOW! I can easily create something in Excel but to make something look clean and simple can sometimes be hard.  My next adventure on this blog thing is to start to understand HTML! This one may take some time.

Debbie Dillers' math sharing questions

I am going to copy them off, laminate them. I hope you find them useful. :)

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.

Math Work Stations ~ Debbie Diller

Don't you just love Debbie Diller's books.  I thought I would hide from the Texas heat and read Debbie's latest book in my favorite comfy chair.  I am going to blog about each chapter.