Math Center Tubs- Finally a Success!

(You can check out my tub labels and center contracts here)

Starting Math Tubs in 3rd Grade

WRONG! Soooo WRONG!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!)

Using Tubs in Our Classroom

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!

You can check out the rest of this pack here!

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 direction.