(You can check out my tub labels and center contracts here)
Fast forward to week 2 of math tubs and I was ready to throw in the towel! Instead of thriving with each new tub activity I presented, they were floundering! Fights, tears, and incomplete work plagued my beloved math center time! So much so I wanted to give up and cry! #frustratedteacher.
After MUCH reflection, I regrouped. I set out to revamp my math tubs.
I filled them with new math games and activities. We went through and reviewed math tub expectations (including how to select a tub, who to play with, and how to know when you’re done!)
For a week, each day we reviewed the expectations (pausing to discuss any issues I may have noticed during the previous day) I also took a week off from meeting with small groups to facilitate the tubs again. Spot checking the students, helping to problem solve if needed.
By the third week we were pros! YAY!
The kiddos absolutely loved my newest math center pack too!
Moral of the story? When you know you’ve got a good thing, don’t throw it to the side. Don’t be afraid to truly reflect (and not that kind of reflection they make you write right after you’ve attended a workshop) but true reflection. Sometimes it just takes a reset to get things rolling in the right direciton.
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Bekki Sayler says
September 25, 2014 at 2:30 amSuch a powerful life lesson. Your students needed to see you model how to work through something that is floundering and turn it into something that is totally awesome! I am so glad you shared this!
Love your centers…
Kimberly Santana says
September 25, 2014 at 10:47 amGreat post Leigh! So many of us struggle with great ideas and the bridge to student execution! This is a great reminder to truly reflect as a professional! #highfive
Leigh- The Applicious Teacher says
September 26, 2014 at 1:27 amLOL! Too funny with the hash-tags! I feel like I'm living in a reflection
Erin B. says
September 25, 2014 at 8:16 pmAwesome! They look like a huge success! I love how you've organized them, and the activities look so engaging! 🙂
~Erin
Mrs. Beattie's Classroom
Leigh- The Applicious Teacher says
September 26, 2014 at 1:16 amYou're always too sweet, Erin! XOXO!
Mrs. Wathen says
September 27, 2014 at 3:20 pmIt is so crazy how something works for one group of kids and the next group struggles-even staying at the same grade level. Kudos to you for working through it and taking the time to give your students what they needed.
Tammy
The Resourceful Apple
Live from Hawaiʻi... says
March 20, 2016 at 3:29 pmWith 20+ years under my belt, Iʻm always looking for ways to make my kidsʻ learning exciting and fun. I love your math tub activities, and I can adjust it down to a first grade level. Mahalo!
Donna says
October 3, 2016 at 8:30 pmHi, I’m in the UK and am implementing maths rotations soon as a way of helping my class who are all behind their age expectations. I was just wondering what you do with all the worksheets and things they produce during this centre time?
Thanks
Donna
Leigh says
October 5, 2016 at 2:28 pmHey Donna!
I’m not big on grading assignments that students complete during centers. I have a center work folder that students keep all their reading and math center work in. One side is labeled “completed” and the other side is labeled “to complete”. At the end of the week, I comb through the folders and check over the completed work. Then I staple the work together and put a big check mark on it and send it home. I also try to limit the amount of “papers” students complete during center time and often opt for games over worksheets.