Episode 4: Creating a Math Community
Episode Summary
In this week’s episode we talk about 5 (but really 6!) strategies to create a math community within your classroom! Both Annie and Nichole discuss tips from their own experiences helping students feel like a part of the math community at school.’
First up, we talk about our favorite math topic to teach! Nichole’s favorite is volume in 5th grade, and Annie loves teaching two digit by two digit multiplication and long division.
Tip #0: Discuss Norms and Set Expectations - Both teachers agree that we need to create a climate where students trust their teacher and each other. They need to feel safe to make mistakes, to learn, and to grow! Nichole shares an idea called My Favorite No.
Tip #1: Build Math Confidence - Nichole does an activity that all students can access and creates an anchor chart called “What Helps Us Learn Math.” Annie has her students “play teacher” and she chooses students who might struggle a little more to come to the board and share their correct answers!
Tip #2: Giving and Getting Feedback - Timely, “in the moment” feedback helps students grow and find areas to improve. Nichole admits she hates grading, but loves giving feedback through strategies like “glows and grows.” Annie and Nichole agree that students need an approachable and caring teacher in order for feedback to be successful. Annie sets up her classroom so that students feel comfortable getting extra help during work time at the teacher table.
Tip #3: The Power of Partner Work - We both love to have students working with partners or in small groups! Annie sets up her routines so that students can be successful when working together and helping each other. She also shares how she groups her students by things they can’t change - find a partner who also has glasses, who has the same gym shirt, etc! Nichole shares about using sticks or partner cards to get them randomly grouped. Both teachers love using partners and groups in math!
Tip #4: Math in the Real World - Annie shares how she uses Lou Malnati’s pizza for a delicious real world fractions connection! She also talks about how she uses her Iditarod experiences for SO many math connections. Nichole suggests starting with a real world problem before teaching skills and concepts explicitly.
Tip #5: Making Assessments Meaningful - Nichole shares about using exit tickets as an in-the-moment snapshot for checking on kids’ understanding and possible reteaching. Annie provides immediate feedback as students are working and keeps track of students who need help while she circulates! We both have times in the day to help students who are struggling get a little support.
Topics Discussed
Creating a Math Community by:
Discussing Norms and Setting Expectations
Building Math Confidence
Giving and Getting Feedback
Harnessing the Power of Partner Work
Making Real World Math Connections
Making Assessments Meaningful
Links & Resources
Subscribe to the Show
Make sure to follow Off Task Teachers so you never miss an episode—or the extra tips and resources we drop in the show notes. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music. And if you’re enjoying the show, leaving a quick review is the best way to help other teachers find us. Your feedback not only supports the podcast but also helps us create episodes that matter most to you.
Let’s Connect
Follow us on the podcast, Substack, 5th Grade Teacher Facebook Group, Catholic School Facebook Group, Annie on Instagram, and Nichole on Instagram!
*please note- some links included in this blog are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission when you click on the link and purchase. This commission helps us keep this podcast going! Thank you for your support. :)
