Honest differences are often a healthy sign of progress. –

Mahatma Gandhi

http://blogs.birmingham.k12.mi.us/pierceppl/math-workshop-district-page/

Math Workshop R&D Group: Jenny Sawmiller, Danny Pruzinski, Jill Moss, Jim LaLick

Great Math Classrooms use the 8 math practices and teachers know the students math knowledge in order to scaffold students’ growth

Best Practices in math include Utilizing the Common Core – 8 Math Practices Math Talk/ Discourse Picking Good Tasks Questioning Community Inquiry/ Problem Solving Individual and Small Group Conferencing

The “old” way of teaching math is not congruent with what research shows is best practice for teaching math.

The structure of math workshop lends itself to all of these best practices.

The math workshop we advocate for is simple; a mini-lesson, practice time, and a wrap-up.

Discourse is promoted throughout the workshop

The teacher has time to meet with small groups for intervention and enrichment during the practice time

Students have an opportunity to solve problems and not simply do computation.

(8 - 12 minutes) - this is a the part of the math lesson that you give common understanding.  A typical mini-lesson may have a connection to what students already know, a teaching point, active engagement and a link to the future.

(30 - 60 minutes) - this is any meaningful activity/activities that give you as the teacher an opportunity to conference with the students individually or in small groups. 

What the students do may include centers, games, task boards, paper practice, fact practice, journal pages, compass learning, investigation activity, etc.

THIS DOES NOT NEED TO LOOK THE SAME EVERY DAY OR IN EVERY CLASSROOM AS LONG AS CONFERENCING IS TAKING PLACE.

(8 - 12 minutes) - this is the part of the lesson where you and the students have an opportunity to share "ah-ha" moments or share other learning and work from the day.  It is also a time that you can bring the students together for final thoughts.

Math Expressions is a resource that can be used to create your workshop lessons.

Pick and Choose activities that match your teaching point from the Teachers Manual, RTI, Math Games or any other resources you have.

For videos of us planning a sample lesson from Math Expressions into a workshop lesson as well as sample workshop lessons for each grade please visit the blog or see links below. Center Based Workshop Video Investigation Based Workshop Video