Math Workshop: Five Steps to Implementing Guided Math, Learning Stations, Reflection, and More

This former Math Solutions publication is now published by Heinemann (9780325137506). Visit Heinemann.com/Math to learn more. 

Successfully implement the transformational math workshop model of instruction through five accessible, manageable steps:

Step 1: Understand Math Workshop
Step 2: Prepare Your Students for Math Workshop
Step 3: Decide Your Math Workshop Structure
Step 4: Facilitate Your Math Workshop
Step 5: Reflect on and Refine Your Math Workshop

Educators are invited to embrace this resource as their own personal “instructional coach,” first exploring what the author refers to as “three buckets” that need to be in place for a highly successful math workshop:

Classroom Arrangement
Routines and Procedures
Mathematics Community

The resource then offers “Twenty Days to a Classroom Culture That Works,” which includes twenty minilessons that support the communication and practice of expectations surrounding the workshop model. From there, it explores three classroom-tested math workshop structures, providing practical ideas for routines, focus lessons, guided math groups, learning stations, and reflections so you can get started with math workshop in your classroom today.

Streaming Video Clips
The online video clips invite you inside K–5 classrooms for a seeing-is-believing look at math workshop in action. Seeing clips of actual teachers and students engaged in math workshop is the next best thing to observing the model in a classroom.

Reproducibles
Templates, tools, and ideas are included and available in downloadable format.

Jennifer Lempp is a Coordinator in the Office of School Support in Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia. She has taught at both the elementary and middle school levels and served as a math coach. In addition, Jennifer has facilitated professional development at the local, state, and national levels and is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence Mathematics. She is currently enrolled in an Educational Leadership doctoral program at the University of Virginia and will earn her EdD in Administration and Supervision. Jennifer is a mother of three children: Mason, Claire, and Sophia. She enjoys biking, hiking, and kayaking with them and her husband on the weekends.

Review: Math Workshop is our school’s primary resource for providing all students with an opportunity to access mathematical concepts and skills. It helps teachers and students see that math can be fun. It helps build student resilience and confidence in mathematics. And it promotes differentiated instruction, student discourse, and strategy sharing. Look no further than Math Workshop! —Jason Pannutti, principal, Bren Mar Park Elementary School, Alexandria, Virginia

Review: Regardless of the curriculum you use, Math Workshop creates a clear vision of how math classrooms can be a space for engaging all children. By using the math workshop model, students’ learning is differentiated, students have the opportunity to work with their teacher in small groups, students are provided choice in how they spend their time, and students do math centered around big ideas. So many resources exist related to reading and writing workshop models—I’m excited that there is now one for math! —Lucy Kersting, math coach, Clark County School District, Las Vegas, Nevada

Review: Math Workshop drives explicit and differentiated math instruction for all students. The resource clearly lays out five steps for implementing math workshop. The “look-fors” included as reproducibles are easy to follow and a great resource for administrators to use during walk-throughs and teacher observations. —Amber K. Walters, principal, Nora Elementary School, Indianapolis, Indiana

Review: Math Workshop expertly blends workshop philosophy with practical ideas, strategies, and structures to engage all students in high-quality mathematics learning experiences. The resource brings together all of the components of math workshop and is supported by research-based best practices. Jennifer Lempp’s mantra, “Go Slow to Go Fast!” stays with teachers as they develop structures, routines, and a community of mathematicians. The video clips and reflection questions provide powerful guidance as teachers implement and refine their math workshop practices. It feels like Jennifer is there, coaching teachers as they read, plan, teach, and reflect. This is an essential, “go-to” resource for all teachers of mathematics, coaches, and administrators. —Melissa Pearson, Supervisor of Mathematics, K–5, West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, West Windsor Township, New Jersey

Review: Math Workshop is an incredible resource for educators who want to build their understanding of the what, why, and how of developing an effective math workshop. It has everything teachers might need to develop and improve the structure of their math block, including sample minilessons, number sense routines, and video clips showing math workshop in action! —Lindsey Covey, math instructional coach, Title 1 School, Falls Church, Virginia

Review: Math Workshop is a pedagogical philosophy that transcends curriculum. It enhances student agency by making learning more student-centered—pushing students to reflect, reason, collaborate, communicate, and make sense of mathematical content—transforming them from math students to student mathematicians. Jennifer Lempp details in clear, manageable, immediately actionable steps how every teacher—novice to seasoned—can elevate core mathematics instruction to simultaneously provide intervention and enrichment, thereby improving student achievement and engagement. Working through this book is like welcoming Jennifer as your personal instructional coach. Her strategies are practical and her tone is encouraging because she’s been there. As educators, we want to implement the math workshop model in its entirety immediately; however, Jennifer helps us take comfort in knowing that this is a journey best navigated one step at a time. —Trish Kepler, math coordinator, The Greenwich Country Day School, Greenwich, Connecticut

Review: This resource is the perfect companion text for our district course for teachers who are seeking to implement math workshop. The included structures and components enable teachers to meet students’ individual learning needs while empowering students to be more self-directed. As teachers promote collaboration, problem-solving, and communication throughout their learner-driven classrooms, Math Workshop helps them take their instructional practice to the next level. —Sarah Putnam, Director of Teaching and Learning, Arlington Public Schools, Arlington, Virginia