Incredible Guided Math Center with 2nd Graders
When I started teaching 2nd grade, I knew that I wanted to make my math centers interactive and differentiated for my students’ abilities. Guided math is the perfect recipe to do both!
When do I do Guided Math?
During our math block, we have three math work stations- Math with a Friend, Math by Myself, and Math with the Teacher. It is when the students are at the teacher station that I get to do guided math with a small group. I have three groups of students that rotate through the math station. I see each group everyday for 15 minutes. So students are getting 15 minutes to guided math instruction everyday!
What is Guided Math?
I really learned what guided math is, how to plan for each level of groups, and the types of concrete and abstract activities to do with my students from The Brown Bag Teacher.
My three groups are leveled- below grade level, on grade level, or above grade level with their math abilities. So each group is getting individualized targeted modeling and activities to build on what they need to understand the content.
During my guided math time, I take the skill that I taught the students in whole group that day and I break it down to it’s simplest form of understanding. All groups do a hands on warm up that looks at the skill in a concrete way then we progress as they are able to practice at their level.
I use as many interactive techniques as possible so students are using manipulative to further their understanding of the concept. We also use dry erase sleeves or white boards frequently to engage the students as well as make it easy to quickly move on to another problem.
What do I do during Guided Math?
For each level group I have a basic goal that I follow each day.
Below Grade Level Group– break down and reteach the whole group content
On Grade Level Group- practice & ensure understanding
Above Grade Level Group– practice & extend/ enrich
I always begin with a warm up problem. Then, I model and discuss the skill that we learned that day or are focusing on in our guided math time. Next, we move into the students practicing.
I often write problems on students white boards for them to complete so that they are each completing a different problem. I do this because
- it eliminates the I finish first race- they all know they have different problems so they take different amounts of time to complete
- I can easily differentiate the numbers even when all the problems look the same amongst the students
- it keeps students continuously working rather than waiting for each other
- I can discuss the problem with each student and ask leading questions or provide extra help as needed
For each unit, I prepare test like questions printed out. If we have extra time one day, we look at the question together and discuss it.
How do I Make Guided Math Hands On?
We use ALL of the manipulatives! I also love to write on the table in dry erase marker whenever possible. This really hooks the students SO much! I have all of these materials on a shelf behind the table that we sit at for guided math so I can access them at any time. I do not like to have to plan what materials I might need because it truly depends on the students’ needs.
Materials I use most often:
What are the other students doing?
During guided math stations, students who are not with me are at one of the other two math centers. Due to students doing multiple activities at the same time, there is some management involved so everyone is working successfully!
Necklace Trick!
I give two students a necklace to identify them as that day’s helpers. If students have any questions during math centers they need to ask one of the helpers before they can interrupt my small group. This really helps to promote leadership in the classroom and minimize distractions for my teacher group!
Waterfall
Ah, my FAVORITE call and response! I say “waterfall” and students respond with “shhhhh” as they mime their fingers trickling down like a waterfall. This is a simple way to control volume level and give students a gentle reminder without stopping everyone’s focus from working.
I hope that this gives you ideas where to get started doing guided math with your students!
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