How To Make Math Small Groups Work Better

Whether you teach math small groups or want to meet one-on-one with students after you’ve released them to work independently, you’ve probably had that feeling of “small group overwhelm”. You know…that feeling when the students who are supposed to be working independently…are…not…independent.

Instead of focusing on meeting with students for follow-up instruction, you spend your time:

• answering questions you think your students should already know the answer to
• helping students find the supplies they need
• Urging students to get started and get focused on their independent work 

It all begins to feel a bit like a circus act that you really don’t want to perform again tomorrow. If this is happening in your classroom, know that you are not alone. But also know there are some tools you can use and some routines you can implement that turn that circus act into a well-oiled machine. 

Math Small Groups Solution 1: Answering All The Questions 

If questions bog you down during the small group and independent work rotations of your Math Workshop block, start implementing the Math Triad system. 

A Math Triad is a carefully designed group of 3-4 students that work together to solve any problems that may arise during Math Workshop each day. Math Triads build student independence and resourcefulness rather than dependence on the teacher as the sole provider of answers.

This approach to grouping is designed with the “three before me” routine in mind. With this routine, a student should ask three people to assist them before asking the teacher.

• First, the student must ask themself by thinking long and hard about the question/problem and using personal resources to find a solution.
• If they do not find a solution, the student must collaborate with a classmate and combine brainpower and resources.
• If that classmate does not have the resources to help, the student must collaborate with yet another classmate.
• Occasionally, the student still has no solution and must turn to the teacher for guidance. These students write their names on the board in a designated spot so you can come to provide help when you have a free moment. 

This reduces the number of interruptions you have when working through follow-up instruction one-on-one or during math small groups. 

Math Small Groups Solution 2: Helping Students Find Their Supplies

If you find yourself helping particular students dig through their desks to find their own personal supplies, introduce the classroom job of Desk Elves. 

Your desk elves will help remind each student in the classroom to keep their desk or their workspace organized. I recommend assigning a desk elf for each table group or each seating zone in your classroom so they only have a few desks/cubbies to check each day. 

These helpers will peek inside each student’s desk or cubby and touch nothing. If they see a desk that is organized, tidy, and free from any extra pencils, loose papers, knickknacks, or trash, they can move on to check the next desk.

If they see any of the items listed (or any other items you prefer not to have inside desks or cubbies) they place a Tidy Up Ticket on top of the desk or on the edge of the cubby. This ticket is a polite way of reminding the owner of the desk or cubby that they need to take a moment to tidy up their personal learning space before heading home that day.

When you first start implementing this routine, students who receive Tidy-Up Tickets may need some scaffolding and support with organizing their desk space. In time, you will see their ability to organize personal space grow stronger and you will spend less time fishing through desks each day. 

If you find yourself opening cabinets to find supplies that you didn’t realize your students may need for the math activities you set out, try setting up a designated math corner where all the manipulatives, games, and recording sheets your students will need during Math Workshop are all located and presented in a way that’s completely accessible to them. 

Math Small Groups Solution 3: Boosting Student Focus and Independence  

With so many moving parts, Math Workshop sometimes feels a bit overwhelming for students. They need to know:

• what activity they are assigned to work on at any given time 
• the details of their assignment
• when to move on to the next activity.

Some students have this list of things running through their minds when they really need to jump in a get started on their work. A tool that makes it so much easier for everyone in the room to get organized, get focused, and get working is a digital rotation board. 

The carefully formatted timers in this digital PowerPoint tool will maximize student efficiency and create a calm yet productive Math Workshop environment in your classroom each day as it:

• Keeps track of time during your M.A.T.H. rotations
• Gives students signals when it is time to transition
• Displays a countdown timer to keep transitions efficient

To read all about this powerful classroom management tool, hop on to this post.

Say Hello To More Productive Math Work Sessions

By using these tools to improve math small groups and independent work time, you’ll not only reduce stress and frustration for yourself, but you’ll also help your students become more self-sufficient and confident in their math abilities. To make your teacher life easier than ever, grab these ready-to-use tools that make implementing these three routines seamless.

• Math Triad Toolkit
• Free Editable Desk Elf Job Card (and 21 other editable job cards)
• Math Workshop Rotation Board
• Digital Transition Management Slides for All Subjects