Teaching Math and Teaching Reading - What's the Connection?

What if we taught primary level math like we teach primary level reading - guided reading, reading workshop, literacy work stations? What would that look like?

Guided Math Groups: The groups would be flexible and would be based on the needs of the students. I like Michael Battista's Cognition-Based Assessment and Teaching series. In these books, Battista explains the developmental levels students progress through as they develop mathematical understanding.

Math Workshop: The mini-lesson would focus on a concept or a skill that mathematicians use. It could be a time to introduce and reinforce the Mathematical Practices. As students move off to practice the skill, they will do it at their developmental level. This cannot be done by "differentiating" with a reteach or an enrichment level worksheet; rather, students work on problems that are interesting and important. The teacher conferences with students and coaches them to stretch their thinking.

Math Work Stations: Students practice math skills with partners during this time. The work stations are differentiated to meet the needs of the students in the class. The stations are engaging and attend to the important work of the grade level.

By using this method, students will be more engaged, gaps in learning can be identified and addressed, and teaching is focused on each student's zone of proximal development.