How might using flexible groups along with student choice affect students’ achievement in my 3rd grade math block?

Seminar Title

How might using flexible groups along with student choice affect students’ achievement in my 3rd grade math block?

Flexible Small Groups, Student Choice, Whole Group Mini-Lessons

3rd Grade

Elementary

Mathematics

All Disciplines

Do you ever feel like you are pulled in a million different directions with so many needs within your classroom and you don’t even know where to begin? Believe me, you are not alone. That is exactly how I felt during my math block. Now, I am excited to say that I love the way my math block feels and flows. Students are working independently, collaboratively, but best of all they are working on things that will impact them individually as mathematicians. The pedagogical themes discussed in this session are applicable across elementary grade levels and are relevant to any content area. Come and see if this might be something you can use in your classroom to jump start student engagement and achievement in during your math block.

When I began my review of literature, the question that propelled my research was, “Why am I not meeting my students’ needs during math block?” I want so desperately for my math block to feel like my reading block, with students working independently, with partners, or working with me in a small group. Throughout my research, I found that this could be an actual possibility and not just a pipe dream. In order to accomplish this daunting task, several components need to be set in place: motivation/engagement, differentiation, assessment, and structure. Those were the recurring themes that surfaced during my research. I quickly discovered that there are several different avenues to pursue when it comes to the structure of a math block. However, they all focus on the same core principles: flexible grouping, meaningful workstations, and differentiation. As Dr. Nicki Newton demonstrates through the use of her math structure, Guided Math, “you get to invite each student to a front-row seat--as a participant, not a spectator.” That is how I want my students to feel as they master mathematical standards beginning at their level and growing from there My question then became, How might using flexible groups along with student choice affect students’ achievement in my 3rd grade math block? Through my research, specifically focused on the structure of a math block, I decided to meld components of The Math Daily 3 and Guided Math into something that would work for my third grade students, and for me as well. The outcome of my action research was extremely rewarding; the majority of my students met the standard and there was considerable growth of test averages comparing data over the last three years As a result of using flexible groups along with student choice, I will continue to use this structure of instruction during my math block. Even though I have grown as an educator during this process, I still need to refine my guided group instruction and really provide interventions during this time. That is my next step as I continue to evolve as a master teacher.