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  • Ideas by Jivey

    Jivey shares ideas and lessons to make literacy accessible for all.

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    Managing Math Stations: Tips and Tricks!

    September 1, 2015

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    Are you ready to get MATH STATIONS rolling in your room, but still a little nervous? Or maybe you are just ready to change things up a bit to be more organized. This post has some great tips and tricks for you!

    First of all, when you first get started with math stations, you may want to consider not differentiating. (GASP!) I know. I said it. This is not a must- if you feel your kids can handle it right away, go for it! But in my math workshop, I think getting my routine down and helping kids understand how to access stations, how to work well with others, and how to clean up needs to happen first!

    Students need to know WHAT they are doing before they get to the station. I think math stations should always be a review. You can use the activity the week before it goes in the station during your teaching, and then students shouldn’t come to you with 100 questions about it. 🙂 I love to teach activities and games that will be in stations as part of my mini-lesson or in small groups. Kids love to play teacher vs. student!
    Tips and tricks for managing math stations with Ideas by Jivey.
    Do you have a poster-maker at your school? If you don’t… be jealous. They are the best invention ever. I use it to make the activity big enough for everyone to see on the board. You could also use a document camera. 🙂

    Organization is KEY. Making sure everything is together and ready for them at each station will keep them from roaming the room or worse, INTERRUPTING you when you are with your small group! If you have been a follower of mine, you know I LOVE my 10-drawer rainbow cart.

    Tips and tricks for managing math stations with Ideas by Jivey.

    It doesn’t take up a lot of room and all of the stations fit in it nicely. The kids can just take out the entire drawer and take it to the place where they will work, or they can take out what they need from the drawer. It’s your decision! Also make sure your manipulatives are organized in a way that is easy for the students to get to- base-ten blocks, for instance, are not going to fit in the drawers- use a Rubbermaid tub that is easy for students to open and close.

    Tips and tricks for managing math stations with Ideas by Jivey.

    Another must-have for organization is Ziploc bags! If there is a game or an activity where students work as partners or in a group, put everything they will need in the bag.

    Tips and tricks for managing math stations with Ideas by Jivey.
    If there are smaller pieces needed for a game, use a small Ziploc inside the larger Ziploc to keep the pieces together.
    Tips and tricks for managing math stations with Ideas by Jivey.

    For your own sanity (and the students’ too), QUIET DICE are a must!! I have two tricks for you:

    Tips and tricks for managing math stations with Ideas by Jivey.

    You can read this post about using felt for dice- it keeps the dice from clacking all over the desk tops. Another option is foam dice! A lot of the manipulative kits are coming with these now. The only drawback is they are usually only found as 6-sided, and I LOVE 10-sided dice!

    Tips and tricks for managing math stations with Ideas by Jivey.

    Of course, having students sit on carpeted floor for dice games is a great option, too!

    LAMINATE EVERYTHING! It will keep the paper police happy, and keep you from visiting the copier as much. Students can use dry erase markers or vis-a-vis markers and then wipe it off. Stations can then be used more than once through the year, and you don’t have to really prep anything!

    Tips and tricks for managing math stations with Ideas by Jivey.

    I also love this because “we’re done” is not allowed. Oh you finished that game? Wipe it clean and start over! The great thing about games with dice and cards is they aren’t ever really playing the “same” game since the numbers change every time!

    Anticipate what they might need… this can be tricky sometimes so make sure students know where manipulatives are that they can access any time. But, for example, if you know your lower students struggle with multiplication facts, provide some tiles they can use to make groups in a multiplication game.

    Tips and tricks for managing math stations with Ideas by Jivey.

    This will not only MAKE them practice (which is the whole point of stations), but it will prevent them from just guessing until their partner tells them they are right.

    I hope these tips help your Math Workshop go smoothly! Check out my Guide to Launching Math Workshop for more tips, as well as some starter stations! Need more stations and games for your classroom? Check out all of my math units in my TPT store!

    Follow my Math Workshop Pinterest Board for even more great ideas!

    Follow Ideas By Jivey’s board Math Workshop Ideas on Pinterest.

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    Math Math Workshop Workshop Model
    by Jessica Ivey 

    About Jessica Ivey

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    Welcome!

    Welcome!

    Hi, I'm Jessica, also affectionately known as Jivey! I am passionate about making literacy accessible for all students using research-based strategies. Students learn best through content integration and in-context skills, and my goal is to help you deliver your instruction with these best practices!

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    Recent Posts

    • Teaching Grammar that Supports the Science of Reading
    • Teaching Text Structure With Picture Books
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    Ideas By Jivey

    7 hours ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    🦎Here's another fantastic book you won't want to miss for Women's History Month on this Mentor Text Monday!🐉Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez is the inspiring biography of the pioneering female scientist who loved reptiles.Get the resource I've made to go along with the book to have:★a mentor sentence lesson for the book★an interactive notebook activity to review/teach abstract nouns★eight reading ideas suggested with three activities provided: supporting an inference, key details and main idea, and vivid verbs★one writing idea suggested with a writing prompt given★contextual vocabulary activitiesGet it in the All-Access Mentor Text Membership: members.ideasbyjivey.com/all-accessGet the unit on TPT: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Joan-Procter-Dragon-Doctor-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Unit-802...Get the unit on Jivey's website: www.ideasbyjivey.com/product/joan-procter-dragon-doctor-mentor-text-digital-print-unit/ ... See MoreSee Less

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    Ideas By Jivey

    2 days ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    When do YOU teach grammar? 🤓📓If you're using the mentor sentence routine, I suggest beginning your writing time with it! You want grammar and language to be directly connected to their writing.This also helps get students into a writing frame of mind, and often gives them a purpose for writing that day! ✏️Read more about the mentor sentences routine here: www.ideasbyjivey.com/routine ... See MoreSee Less

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    Ideas By Jivey

    2 days ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    📚 Boost your students' reading and writing skills by integrating mentor texts all year long! Check out this post for tips on how to use mentor texts to enhance your lesson plans and engage your students, plus grab a freebie for one of my favorite books! ... See MoreSee Less

    Why I Love Using Mentor Texts All Year (And You Should, Too!)

    www.ideasbyjivey.com

    Jivey shares ideas and lessons to make literacy accessible for all.
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    🦎Here's another fantastic book you won't want t 🦎Here's another fantastic book you won't want to miss for #womenshistorymonth  on this #mentortextmonday!

🐉Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez is the inspiring biography of the pioneering female scientist who loved reptiles.

Get the resource I've made to go along with the book to have:
★a mentor sentence lesson for the book

★an interactive notebook activity to review/teach abstract nouns

★eight reading ideas suggested with three activities provided: supporting an inference, key details and main idea, and vivid verbs

★one writing idea suggested with a writing prompt given

★contextual vocabulary activities

This is just one of over 150 books in the All-Access Mentor Text Membership! Join at the link in my profile! https://members.ideasbyjivey.com/all-access

#ideasbyjivey #picturebooks #mentortext #mentorsentence #teachersfollowteachers #iteach345
    When do YOU teach grammar? 🤓 📓If you're usi When do YOU teach grammar? 🤓

📓If you're using the #mentorsentences routine, I suggest beginning your writing time with it! You want grammar and language to be directly connected to their writing.

This also helps get students into a writing frame of mind, and often gives them a purpose for writing that day! ✏️

Read more about the mentor sentences routine at the link in my profile!

#ideasbyjivey #mentortexts #teacherspayteachers #upperelementary #grammarteacher

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/routine
    🔍Research has proven that #vocabulary words mus 🔍Research has proven that #vocabulary words must be presented in context for proper comprehension.

📖That means... throw out the word lists for kids to look up in a dictionary and memorize the definition!!!

📚Picture books are vital – yes, even in the upper grades – to allow students to use the images to help with context and infer the meaning of words. One way to present vocabulary words effectively is to teach through texts you are already using for other lessons!

😍You can find over 150 weeks' worth of contextual vocabulary activities just like these in the All-Access Mentor Text Membership- link in profile!!

#ideasbyjivey #upperelementary #mentortexts #teachingvocabulary #teachersfollowteachers #iteach345 

https://members.ideasbyjivey.com/all-access
    🍀What book are you reading this week for St. Pa 🍀What book are you reading this week for St. Patrick's Day?

Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman is a fun one!

Need some last-minute activities?

You can find an entire unit for this #mentortext in Ideas by Jivey's All-Access Mentor Text Membership, as well as on TPT (link in profile)!

#stpatricksdayintheclassroom #ideasbyjivey
#mentorsentences #upperelementary
#teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers
#iteach345

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fionas-Luck-St-Patricks-Day-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Leprechaun-Book-Unit-7821146
    I LOVE reading #fabulousfeedback from you all! 🤩 This one makes me especially happy because I know committing to a new routine like mentor sentences is a mindset shift, but I always hear such positive results once teachers do! ❤

Check out #mentorsentences on my website or my TPT store! www.ideasbyjivey.com

#ideasbyjivey #iteach #iteachtoo #mentortexts #grammarteacher #elementaryela #teacherspayteachers #teachersfollowteachers
    🍀🌈💰For today's #mentortextmonday, let's g 🍀🌈💰For today's #mentortextmonday, let's get excited for St. Patrick's Day this week! 

I have the perfect #picturebook: 🍀Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman. It's an original folktale with a little girl power mixed in!

Get the resource I've created for it and you'll have: 
🍀a mentor sentence lesson for the book

🍀an interactive notebook activity to review/teach figurative and literal language

🍀six reading ideas suggested with three activities provided: citing evidence, character analysis, and defining using context clues

🍀one writing idea suggested with a writing prompt given

🍀contextual vocabulary activities

🍀science integration - design a leprechaun trap with simple machines

You can find this unit in Ideas by Jivey's All-Access Mentor Text Membership, as well as on TPT (link in profile)! 

#stpatricksdayintheclassroom #ideasbyjivey #mentortext #mentorsentences #upperelementary #teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #iteach345

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fionas-Luck-St-Patricks-Day-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Leprechaun-Book-Unit-7821146
    🤔 So what's so special about using #mentorsente 🤔 So what's so special about using #mentorsentences instead of lectures and worksheets?

💡Engagement in the daily class discussions around language is what will give many students a “lightbulb moment” and help those skills transfer to writing. 

Holding these high-level conversations are when the students are going to learn the MOST. 🥳

Read more at the link in my profile! 

#ideasbyjivey #teachersfollowteachers #iteach345 #mentortexts #upperelementaryteacher #grammarteacher 

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/routine
    🍀Looking for the perfect book to use for St. Pa 🍀Looking for the perfect book to use for St. Patrick's Day?

I have the one! 🍀Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman is an original folktale with some girl power mixed in, too!

With the resource I've created, you'll get contextual vocabulary activities PLUS a mentor sentence lesson, reading activities, a writing prompt, and a stem tie-in!

You can find this unit in Ideas by Jivey's All-Access
Mentor Text Membership, as well as on TPT (link in
profile)!

#stpatricksdayintheclassroom #ideasbyjivey
#mentortext #mentorsentences #upperelementary
#teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers
#iteach345

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fionas-
Luck-St-Patricks-Day-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Leprech
aun-Book-Unit-7821146
    🌈What book are you using for St. Patrick's Day? 🌈What book are you using for St. Patrick's Day?

🍀Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman is a great one full of figurative language!

Get this mentor sentence, plus reading, writing, vocabulary, and STEM tie-in at the link in my profile! 

You can also find this unit in Ideas by Jivey's All-Access Mentor Text Membership! 

#stpatricksdayintheclassroom #ideasbyjivey #mentortext #mentorsentences #upperelementary #teachersfollowteachers #teacherspayteachers #iteach345 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fionas-Luck-St-Patricks-Day-Mentor-Text-Digital-Print-Leprechaun-Book-Unit-7821146
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