1. Getting Your Groove on with Guided Math!
“Do things better than they have ever been done before.”

2. Did you know…
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics -
71% of adults cannot calculate miles per gallon on a trip
58% cannot calculate a 10% tip on a lunch bill and
78% cannot explain how to compute the interest paid on a loan

3. Math Proficiency of U.S. Students
Low levels of mastery on NAEP
Falling proficiency at higher grades
Heavy remedial demand upon entry into college
Increasing achievement gaps

4. Innumeracy: a term meant to convey a person’s inability to make sense of the numbers that run their lives; a term used to describe a person’s unfamiliarity with mathematical concepts and methods

5. “Create a mathematically literate student.”
A goal for any math teacher or math department:
“Create a mathematically literate student.”

6. Teacher Driven Lessons Just Figure It Out by Working
We do this by breaking away from
some “traditional” teaching practices
such as...
Teacher Driven Lessons
Drill and Kill
50 Homework Problems
Just Figure It Out by Working
with the “Smart” Kid
100% Whole Group Instruction
Low Expectations for Kids with Disabilities
All Abstract Learning & Practice
Sit and Listen Quietly in Your Seat

7. Essential Question for Teachers
During Instructional Planning and
after Instructional Delivery:
What can I do “instructionally different” to support learning for all my students?

8. Guided Math

9. Why Change to Guided Math and the Math Workshop Model?
What concerns would you have? Mine were time, preparation, tracking everyone….

10. What is Guided Math?
Guided Math is similar to Guided Reading in that the teacher puts students into small groups based on ability and students then work on specific standards or skills being taught in different stations, centers, or rotations around the room.  Differentiation is achieved through targeted, prescriptive instruction which meets the needs of the individual student or group.

11. The Foundational Principles of Guided Math
All children can learn mathematics.
A numeracy-rich environment promotes mathematical learning.
Learning at its best is a social process.
Learning mathematics is a constructive process.
An organized classroom environment supports the learning process.
Effective math programs include number talks, modeling, think alouds, critical writing, and purposeful conversations.
Effective math programs empower students with responsibility for their learning
Adapted from Principles of Guided Reading developed by Fountas and Pinnell

12. Guided Math Infrastructure
Concrete (base-ten blocks, cubes, counters, fraction circles, geoboards, etc.),
Representational (model of thinking – pictures, drawing, diagrams, tables)
Abstract (number sentences, equations, expressions, paper/pencil)

13. Why Consider a Guided Math Approach to Math Instruction?
Benefits for Students:
Benefits for Teachers:
students receive targeted, TEKS-based instruction, followed by independent work time
teachers are able to tailor instruction to meet the individual needs of their students
students gain confidence and proficiency in a supportive, scaffolded environment
teachers are given the opportunity to build positive relationships with their students that might not be as easy in a “whole group” environment
Students are engaged in mathematics practice, and concepts are reinforced daily during centers or stations.
teachers get to observe students as they “do” the math
students engage in meaningful math conversations in a safe, non-threatening atmosphere
students build a repertoire of strategies to build numeracy and number sense

14. How Do I Form My Guided Math Groups?
Groups can be formed using (but not limited to) the following types of data:
Previous grade level test scores
Universal Screening Data (iSTEEP, iSTATION, MobyMax)
Pre-assessment data
Weekly quizzes
Ongoing Formative Assessments
Anecdotal notes from math conferences

15. Guided Math Group Reminders
Students should be grouped into cooperative teams with no more than six students.
Students need to be grouped effectively in order to maximize the benefits of guided math.
Work on concepts with the kids who struggle and extend and hit high order thinking skills for the kids who get it. This is differentiation at its best!
Within each group, students can work independently, in pairs, or as one unit, according to the task. Your groups will change as your standards change.
Remain flexible and fluid with your groups. This will allow your students to work with (and learn from) more than just a small group of the same students.

16. Guided Math Group Reminders cont.
Also, by mixing up your groups regularly, you may find that some students really thrive with others and some students don’t mix well for on-task productive work.
Establish clearly defined rules, expectations, and behaviors for group work and model those procedures extensively before rolling out guided math workshop for the first time!

18. 7 Instructional Components of a Guided Math Framework
A classroom environment of Numeracy
Morning Math Warm-Ups & Calendar Board Activities
Whole Class Instruction
Guided Math Instruction with Small Groups
Math Workshop
Individual Conference
Ongoing Assessment

19. Classroom Environment of Numeracy
1. How to Set Up a Classroom of Numeracy
Classroom Environment of Numeracy
-Manipulatives
-Tools for Measuring
-Problems of the Day Problems of the Week
-Class made charts
-Word Wall
-Vocabulary Displays
-Math Related Literature
-Math Journals
-Graphic Organizers
-Math Connections (other content areas)

20. 2. Math Warm-up
NOD/POD/DOD/FOD: Number of the Day, Problem of the Day, Decimal of the Day, Fraction of the Day
Calendar Math Activities
“My Favorite No” – error analysis (
Balance Puzzles – understand and solve equations (solveme.edc.org)
Agree or Disagree Math or Would You Rather Math – great math starters to spark discussion and debate ( (
WODB – “Which One Doesn’t Belong” – thought-provoking puzzles with no right or wrong answers (
Estimation 180 – building number sense (
Visual Patterns – algebraic reasoning skills (
Daily Math Review (Spiral Skills)

21. What’s The Question? Thinking Backwards
Number Talks – computational fluency builder (
Number Talk Images – ntimages.weebly.com
101 questions – great “Notice and Wonder” tool (
Open Middle – problem solving (
Clothesline Math – number sense builder (

22. 3. Whole Class Instruction
When to use whole class instruction?
Introducing a new unit of study.
Guided Math Read Aloud that supports the skill being taught.
Vocabulary Terms
Short Video to show math in the real world.
Anchor Chart Creation
Review previous day’s learning.
Reflection and Journal Writing
Whole Group Math Lessons vs. Small Group Lessons:
Whole Group Lessons are short (8-10 minutes), intentional lessons that help to anchor learning, set the foundation for teacher-table time, and establish common vocabulary among math groups.
The teacher leads the lesson and shows his/her thinking with modeling, explaining, and reinforcing. Then, during small groups students receive differentiated opportunities to engage with the content using hands-on materials.

23. Where Do I Get My Mini-Lessons?
Math Textbook – Go Math has some great introductory videos to connect math skills to real-world situations.
Websites such as BrainPop, BrainPop Jr., MathSnacks, KidsMathTV, Shmoop Math have great math videos to help
create whole group mini-lessons.

24. 4. Small Group Guided Instruction
Effective Uses:
Implementation of CRA method of instruction: Concrete-Representational-Abstract
Reinforce Whole Group Lesson (Mini-Lesson)
Practice of New Skills
Instruction with the use of Manipulatives
Introduction of activities that will later become independent work.
Informal Assessment
Re-teaching Based on Formative Assessment

26. When I say “Math Centers” is this your reaction?
5. Math Workshop
When I say “Math Centers” is this your reaction?
Don’t let the thought of Math Centers make you insane!!
Math stations don't have to be elaborate, complicated, OR picture perfect.
Choose centers that are low prep and don’t have to be changed out very often.
Math stations, or math centers, can be nothing more than a set of directions along with the task cards or other materials for the activity.
The best math station activities are highly engaging and often involve partners working together. The activities can be completed at a table, at a student desk, or even while sitting on the floor!

28. What are the other students doing when not at the teacher table?
Independent Work (to support teacher table or mini-lesson)
Math Activity (partner or independent)
Math Game
Math Fact Practice
Math Journal Writing
Technology-Online Interactive Practice
Math Task Cards
Versatiles
Rek-n-Reks
Spiral Review

29. Baby Steps- This Is The Key!
Establish rules and expectations for math centers.
Use the first few weeks of school to model behaviors and practice procedures before rolling out Guided Math.
Establish that math workshop is not playtime –they are doing mathematical work.
Be very specific about how to use the materials and what to do with them.

30. 6. Individual Student Conferences
Help teachers develop relationships, build trust, and access each students' thinking and prior knowledge one on one.  In order for conferences to be meaningful, they must have the following characteristics:
have a purpose
have a predictable structure
lines of thinking are pursued w/ students
both teachers and students each have conversational roles
students are shown that teachers care
*Guided Math Conferences are geared more towards the student being allowed to work through a problem while the teacher listens and guides, gives feedback, asks questions, gives suggestions, sets goals, and takes notes. (Laney Sammons, Guided Math: A Framework for Mathematics Instruction)

31. 7. Ongoing Assessment “…assessment is not an end goal,
but a means to achieving
instructional outcomes.”
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Rationales for Ongoing Assessment:
Informs teaching decisions
Determines grouping accuracy
Systematically assesses the student’s strengths and areas of deficit
Reveals what a student can do, both independently and with teacher support
Documents progress for parents and students
Summarizes achievement and learning over a given period of tim (Fountas and Pinnell)

32. Great…I know what Guided Math is but how do I make it
work in my classroom?
Warm-up & Whole Group Mini-Lesson 15
minutes
Math Workshop
(4 rotations – 15 minutes each)
Teacher Table Independent Work
Math Game/Activity Fact Practice 60
Minutes
Reflection/Journal Writing
Total Time
90 Minutes

33. Warm-up & Whole Group Mini-Lesson 15 minutes
Math Workshop
(3 rotations-20 minutes each)
Teacher Table Independent Work
Math Game/Activity 60
Minutes
Reflection/Journal Writing
Total Time
90 Minutes

41. Guided Math/Math Workshop Reminders
The first several weeks are critical in correctly teaching students the procedures and expectations for guided math. Not following through or cutting corners can lead to frustration and guided math failure. As most teachers know the key to a good system is practice, practice, practice! You teach and practice what is expected of them, for weeks.
Organization and Preparation is crucial!
It’s never too early to start Guided Math – Dive in and introduce Guided Math the very first day of school.

42. Guided Math/Math Workshop Reminders cont.
Conduct a group meeting where you briefly describe what their math block will look like. Explain that students will be in math groups that might change over the course of the school year.
Talk about the different rotations and how much time will be spent during each.
Discuss the expectations for workshop time and what you expect the students to accomplish at each station.

43. Things to Consider Before Starting Guided Math
How much time do I have?
How many students do I have?
How many groups can I form?
How many centers/stations do I need?
What technology do I have available in my classroom?
Do I want to do 3, 4, or 5 days of Guided Math?
How much prep is involved in setting up my centers?

44. Student Accountability
Ways to hold students accountable for time spent during math workshop:
At the end of workshop time, students return to their own desks and lay out their work so teacher can sticker what they finished during workshop.
Math Journals for recording thoughts and showing their mathematical thinking.  It saves paper, keeps everything in one place, and it provides a sequential record of a student’s progress throughout the year.  Recording sheets can be glued into math journals as one option. 
Math Talk cards are a way to generate mathematical conversations during math workshop, but they also help with both expectations and accountability. The cards give students clearly stated goals as they work on an activity. 

45. Guided Math in Action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG_JNU3v0PA

46. To more effectively teach math, we must…
reach students at all levels of achievement
provide diverse methods of learning
allow more opportunities for observation and communication by students
encourage active engagement by students
empower students to take control of their own learning

47. Resources
Van de Walle, J., Karp, K. & Bay-Williams, J. (2011). Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally
Sammons, L. (2010). Guided math: A framework for mathematics instruction. Shell Education
Diller, D. (2010). Math work stations: Independent learning you can count on, K-2.
Fountas, I. C., & Pinnell, G. S. (1996). Guided reading: Good first teaching for all children.
Boucher, D. – The Math Coach’s Corner
Stephenson, R. - STEM Consultant, Ingham Intermediate School District