Chapter 3 Questions

What should your math work stations, look like, sound like and feel like?
My students and I created an anchor chart for Reading Workshop at the beginning of the year.  Why did I not think about doing the same thing for Math Workshop until having read Debbie's book?  Such a fantastic idea.  In fact, our Looks Like, Sounds Like and Feels Like are very similiar for both Reading and Math Workshop.
Looks Like:
Students working with a partner
Students working in a private spot
Students sharing materials

Sounds Like:
Quiet voices
Talking about Math
Helping voices
Quiet materials

Feels Like:
Happy - students getting along and helping each other
We know a lot about Math

These are all of the students' ideas.  It is amazing how powerful this anchor chart is.  Whenever we have problems during Math Workshop, we can pull out the anchor chart, review it, and solve the problem!  It's like magic.


What does your management board look like?
I actually invested in Debbie Diller's Management Board from Really Good Stuff.  It is double sided.  One side is used for Reading Workshop and the other for Math.  I have 14 Math Stations.  Each slot on the pocket chart allows for two student names (cards included) and 2 workshop slots.  My station bins are numbered and correspond to the numbers on the pocket chart for each pair of students.  Because I have so many students, I repeat workshops as Debbie suggested in her book.  Working in partners and the pocket chart have been a life saver.  I tried uploading a picture, but the uploader isn't working right now.  Here's a link to the web site that will give you a good look at the pocket chart.  I LOVE it!

http://www.reallygoodstuff.com/category/teacher+management+tools/debbie+diller.do?nType=1



How do you support math vocabulary (math talk cards) in your stations?
This is one of my goals for next year.  I love the idea of Math Talk Cards.  Reflection time can be kind of tricky, so these cards are a lifesaver.  It can easily turn into nothing more than a Show and Tell, so the math talk cards help keep the reflection focussed on the math and the learning.  I have been playing around with them for the past few weeks and am enjoying them.  I will be using them on a regular basis next year.  The Math consultant at my school board (who is fantastic) has another list of questions to help out.  I don't think Jill will mind if I post them (I hope so anyway, Jill.)  They are really good and easy to use.  I find that the kids start naturally using the same language during workshops once they are accustomed to the questions. Here they are (All credit goes to Jill MacDonald):

Good Questions

·       What are the _________ you used?

·       How did you decide which ________ to use?

·       How many of each did you use?

·       How did you figure out what…?

·       How did you decide….?

·       How did you begin to solve the problem?

·       Describe your…

·       What could come next? How do you know?

·       How could you create a different ______ that fits this problem?

·       What do you have to do to check?

·       What did you find…?

·       How did you…?

·       What does it mean to…?

·       Is that information useful?  How?

·       How do you know?

·       How could you check your results?

·       How could you describe your…?

·       What is your pattern?

·       What makes it a pattern?

·       What would the ____^th one be?

·       What can you tell me about…?

·       Why do you think that was?

·       Can you be sure?