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June 10, 2018

Managing Students Work while Working with a Small Group

Managing Students While in Small GroupsOne of the biggest struggles I hear from teachers is managing students while they are working with small groups. How can I make sure that they are on task when I am working with others?

For the most part this comes back to setting up those clear rules and expectations in the beginning when you are monitoring rather than running small groups. Reinforce those positive actions by students and quickly squash the negative ones. Each day target one behavior that you are looking for and focus on that rather than focusing on all of them at once. You may be looking for smooth transitions, staying on task, communicating effectively with their group, obtaining materials correctly, cleaning up, etc. and all are equally as important so give them all their time.

The first two weeks will set your pace for the year. Be consistent in what you do. Don’t try to change things during this but but on your Sergeant Strict Sally hat and keep it on! Correct in a loving manner but make sure to enforce what they should be doing.

When you are first starting for the year and simply monitoring the groups and their ability to manage themselves along with following the rules and expectations, it would be of best interest that all groups receive the same activities each day during the first week and then the second week move to two activities, this helps to keep them on task.

Now you may be asking me, but what happens when it just doesn’t work? This happens… there are outside forces that you can’t always compete with and they effect your groups and/or your entire class. This is where you need to reassess. Is it one students or group of students? Do you need to reevaluate those that are grouped together? Do you need to reevaluate what is being given to them as an activity?

  • Immediately determine the root of any problem that you see and address issues as they arise. Most often an issue will arise because students don’t understand what they are doing or they are frustrated by a task they don’t feel confident in. This is another reason why using stations from prior material is important as students will immediately know what they are doing rather than be experiencing a new concept.
  • How are students held accountable for their work? Are you allowing them time to reflect upon their learning? Are some students not completing an appropriate amount of work in the time given? Conference with students and determine the struggles and review expectations before it goes further.
  • If you have too many students that aren’t engaged in Math Workshop it is important to STOP and REFLECT. You can’t expect them to change themselves. Is the task too difficult? Are they bored? Reteach procedures if needed or maybe they need a break. Listen to your students. And remember, some days just don’t lend to group work and you have to be flexible for that.

For the most part laying the foundation in the beginning is what will set you for success with Math Workshop just as with any other form of classroom management. Having the visuals of what you expect students to look like and sound like while they are working as well as what you expect them to complete and turn in upon the culmination of Math Workshop is key.

Are you ready to put in what it takes to build that foundation? Your classroom expectations can’t be built on un-level ground.

Math Workshop eBook with Editable Templates

 

Are you ready to dig in and learn all there is to know about Math Workshop in one concise place? Grab my Math Workshop eBook today that includes 42 pages of of all the information you need to get started as well as over 20 EDITABLE templates to keep you organized and on your toes with planning and documentation throughout the year!

 

Filed Under: Math Workshop, Teaching Tagged With: guided math, math workshop, work stations

Jennifer Jochen

Jennifer Smith Jochen has been an educator since 2003 with experience in elementary, middle school and college. Math has been her passion since a young age which no doubt resulted in her secondary math teaching career. Currently Jennifer is a Differentiated Curriculum Designer and Staff Developer traveling the nation to train teachers on the effectiveness of Interactive Notebooks, Math Workshop and All Things Math. When she is not traveling and training she lives in Fort Worth, TX with her husband and dachshunds where they are working to renovate their home together while channeling their inner JoJo and Chip!

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Staff Developer & Math Curriculum Designer Looking to Engage Teachers in 4-8th Grades #mathworkshop #interactivenotebook
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Jennifer Smith Jochen, M.Ed.
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Saw the doctor via Telehealth yesterday and got my Saw the doctor via Telehealth yesterday and got my official test done today. Hubby had his test done Thursday which has come back positive. 

We have had the symptoms of COVID since Monday so this is just to solidify what our symptoms are. Both of us are beyond miserable with aches, pains, sore everything and it just makes it hard to do anything.

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I don’t share this for sympathy, I share this ask you to please limit your exposure, wear your mask and wash your hands always.

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Yep, we are QUARANTINED at home for the next two w Yep, we are QUARANTINED at home for the next two weeks! @billyjochen.bbr was with a family member this weekend who had a positive test come back today. Nothing any of us did wrong but now we are keeping everyone else safe for precautionary reasons. 

I did wake up this morning (before we found out) feeling horrible but I’m truly praying for a cold, or heck, I would even take the flu. Doubling up on my vitamins and resting to help fight it off as well as taking Cold meds.

Christmas may not look the same for any of us this year but that doesn’t mean the reason and the spirit isn’t there.

We hope you find a way to celebrate your holiday traditions but also be safe as well. 

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Just a Sunday Morning chuckle.. 🤭 Just a Sunday Morning chuckle.. 🤭
🚫CLOSED🚫 It is MOST DEFINITELY the coffee-es 🚫CLOSED🚫 It is MOST DEFINITELY the coffee-est time of year! I want to give 5 of you a gift card to @Starbucks to grab you a morning mocha or afternoon snack!

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This week, I started working on converting Solve a This week, I started working on converting Solve and Snips into Solve and Slides (for Google Drive).

Each Solve and Slide will be two slides to have all 10 word problems available to quite literally, Solve & Slide.

Starting with the thematic ones for Christmas and Winter and will be releasing them soon!

Are you excited about having this self-checking activity available for you to use virtually, remote and in technology stations within your classroom?

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Today is a day that we gather and share our thanks Today is a day that we gather and share our thanks and while this year may look different, don’t forget to take that time to make note of what you are thankful for. 

Document those things as you never know when they might change.

For me, this year, I am thankful for:

- my family and all that we have gone through this year, 
- my husband and all that he is and can be,
- my dogs even when they can be a hot mess,
- my ability to work for myself and with my husband on a daily basis as we operate two companies out of our home and a warehouse,
- and my health as it has been good to me in 2020 despite all else that is going on in the world. 

If any year is important to share our gratitude, 2020 is definitely that year! #bethankful
What are your top 3 FAVORITE Christmas movies? What are your top 3 FAVORITE Christmas movies?
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