Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

Teaching with Heart and Creativity

How I Run my Math Block

I have been asked to explain how I run my math block so I took my camera to school and…
here’s the breakdown.  

My math block is an hour and 45 minutes.

 First, we do our calendar routine (15 minutes tops)
Before moving to the school I am currently at, I did this on the wall.  Now I use the smartboard.  Sorry for the dark pictures!

Next, we do a whole group math lesson. (20 mins)
Today’s lesson happened to also be on the smartboard, but sometimes it is on the pocket chart, or it is a game we play to learn a new concept.  We are always gathered on the rug during this time.

Here’s an example of a pocket chart lesson.  We are up to our eyeballs in ladybugs right now.
I told them if they could match the pictures to the correct number sentence, then the ladybugs would come out of hiding…(whatever it takes, right?)

 Here’s what it looks like when the ladybugs came out to play!

 This is a quick detour to the science center because our larva arrived yesterday!  SO exciting. 

                                            Okay back to math!!!
From our group lesson we quickly move around the perimeter of the rug and learn the new tub of the day if there is one.

 I only introduce one new tub a day or none if nothing is changing that day.  (5-10 mins)

Then I dismiss them to their first math tub round.  Round 1 (10-15 minutes)

 We clean and gather then go out for a second round (10-15 mins)

To end math time, we work in our motivation math books. 

 So I hope that helps explain the madness that is first grade math time! 🙂 
Here’s some links to great math centers for in between times when you need just one more to fill your tubs etc.
Kids Count 1234
Annie Moffatt’s Fall Math Freebies
Today was picture day so I caught these two lovely princesses in their gowns playing a mean game of tether ball in the dirt.  Isn’t first grade awesome!?

 If you want more thematic math tubs I have mine listed on the tab at the top that says Math Units, or you can visit my TpT Shop. 
Much Love!
Reagan

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    Comments

    4. Sandy says

      Thanks for sharing your math block!!! It's always super helpful to see how others do it! 🙂 And I love that picture of those fancy little girls in the dirt! 🙂

      Reply

    8. Dianne says

      Hi Reagan,
      Thanks so much for laying this out for us. You make it look so easy although I know it takes super organizational skills! Awesome job! Now I'm off to shop in your store… 🙂
      Dianne @ Hopelessly Devoted

      Reply

      • Reagan Tunstall says

        We scanned a years worth of activities in and them added spinners and graphics a couple years ago from our bridges math series. I also find many great and free ideas on the smart exchange for free. I. Ant share bridges since it was an adoption, but anyone can download from the smart exchange.

        Reply

    13. Unknown says

      Wow! Your math block is awesomely long! (I think I just made that word up….)

      How long do you having for reading? Writing? Do you have specials/enrichments? What about science and social studies?

      Thanks for sharing!

      ~Heidi V.

      Reply

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