For the last few years, I have used math stations as a way to reinforce skills and give my students a way to over-learn math concepts in a fun and engaging way. YES! It is academic, but the students don’t know they are learning. If we had to skip math stations for the day, my students complained. It was a highly motivating time of the day.
Spinners are available HERE.
I had “new” 10 math stations each week. Students worked with a partner at their math station. Now… there is NO WAY I could have 10 new math stations a week that were TOTALLY different. I would have had the life sucked out of me and I would have had to spend the entire time explaining the stations. Therefore, a few years ago I created some highly predictable math station activities. I kept many of the activities the same but switched out the clip art to match our themes. As the year progressed so did the level of difficulty. The result? My students’ number sense soared and I was able to meet with my small groups.
Once the week’s theme was over, I would put some of these “paperless” activities in our dessert (early finisher tubs). They worked perfectly!
Snap cubes are a good multi-use resource.
Differentiated Instructional Cubes can be found HERE.
These big foam dice are easy to keep track of
Like I said, I started these stations a LLOOONNNGGG time ago and they needed serious updating.
This is how they are organized when I am not using them. These deep clip lids stay on very well.
I made some labels for you to use so they won’t be as sketchy as mine. I keep most of my math and literacy stations in these tubs.Other things were stored like this.
Click HERE to see how I organize my Poetry and Writing Work Stations.
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| Click on the image to download the labels. |
You can see all of these math centers by clicking on this the picture below.
Indiana says
June 14 at 3:01 amWhere do you get the spinners? Theyt look so much better and easier than paperclips.
Thanks
Deedee says
June 15 at 1:06 amI order a bunch at the beginning of the year from Amazon. Email me if you need a link! [email protected]
Positively Learning says
June 14 at 10:11 amLove seeing your planners! Thanks for the math tips – I agree that routine and predictability is KEY to successful centers! Have a great weekend, Jen
Carrie Lemke says
June 15 at 3:46 amI still can't figure out why my squares for the pocket dice are so much smaller?! I love all your math stations and own them all (before you bundled them…bummer!) My kids love that they know how to play them and math stations are their favorite!
Deedee says
July 14 at 3:32 pmCarrie, My dice are 4". When you print, you may want to check "Print as Image" and see if that helps.
Carrie Lemke says
July 17 at 4:53 pmI will give that a try. Thank you!
Andrea Fancy says
June 15 at 9:47 amHi! I was wondering if someday you could do a post on what it is that you do with your small groups during math stations?? My kids do a great job of working quietly and independently, but… I have no idea what to REALLY do with my groups that is useful and effective! I want to take advantage of that time but don't really know where to start. Thanks!