If you are an elementary classroom teacher and are looking for ideas for how to structure your daily math block and create a math schedule so you can fit in everything you need to, then you’ve found the right place! I receive lots of questions from teachers all around the country about this topic.
Our goal is to design a math block that produces high levels of student engagement, understanding, and academic performance. The suggestions below will help you start your journey to do just that! If you are looking for more information about how to design the best math block for your math instruction, then sign up for my Guided Math Workshop course, which will walk you step-by-step with how to launch Guided Math Workshop in your elementary classroom.
This blog post answers the following questions:
- What does a good math lesson look like?
- How do I fit everything into my math schedule?
- What should a 60 minute math block look like?
- What should a 75 minute math block look like?
- How should I structure my 90 minute math block?
What Does a Good Math Lesson Look Like?
A good math lesson must have the following 10 components:
- A whole group lesson where you deliver standards-based grade level content in short and engaging ways (math read alouds, interactive presentations, videos, etc.)
- Differentiated small group instruction that meets the individual needs of your students
- Hands on learning opportunities that fully engages students in their learning and empowers them to look at the concepts and skills in different ways
- Spiral review practice that revisits previously-taught concepts and skills, giving students the opportunity to reinforce learning
- Math fact practice that is developmentally-appropriate and engaging
- Independent practice that gives students the opportunity to practice a growth mindset, persevere, and practice previously-taught skills
- Formative assessment that you use to collect data and inform instruction
- Writing and math integration that promotes higher order thinking and reflection
- Math talk and vocabulary practice with teacher, peers, and class
- Use of math manipulatives to develop a strong conceptual understanding of the math concepts and skills
How do I Fit Everything into my Daily Math Block Schedule?
It doesn’t matter which grade you teach at the elementary level, there is one way to fit in everything you need into your daily math block schedule: Math workshop with Guided Math. This blog post will share some information about how I structure Math Workshop with Guided Math, but I do a deep dive into how to launch Math Workshop with Guided Math in my Guided Math Workshop course.
60 Minute Math Block Schedule Examples
If you have 60 minutes to teach math, then check out these math block schedule examples:
Option A: All 4 Rotations Every Day
:00-:10 – Mini Lesson
:10-:11 – Transition (from the whole group area to the first rotation)
:11-:21 – Math Workshop Rotation 1
:21-:22 – Transition (from the first rotation to the second rotation)
:22-:32 – Math Workshop Rotation 2
:32-:33 – Transition (from the second rotation to the third rotation)
:33-:43 – Math Workshop Rotation 3
:43-:44 – Transition (from the third rotation to the fourth rotation)
:44-:54 – Math Workshop Rotation 4
:54-:55 – Transition (from the fourth rotation to the whole group area)
:55-:60 – Closing
Option B: 2 Rotations Each Day
Days 1 & 3
:00-:12 – Mini Lesson
:12-:13 – Transition (from the whole group area to the first rotation)
:13-:33 – Math Workshop Rotation 1
:33-:34 – Transition (from the first rotation to the second rotation)
:34-:54 – Math Workshop Rotation 2
:54-:55 – Transition (from the second rotation to the whole group area)
:55-:60 – Closing
Days 2 & 4
:00-:12 – Mini Lesson
:12-:13 – Transition (from the whole group area to the third rotation)
:13-:33 – Math Workshop Rotation 3
:33-:34 – Transition (from the third rotation to the fourth rotation)
:34-:54 – Math Workshop Rotation 4
:54-:55 – Transition (from the fourth rotation to the whole group area)
:55-:60 – Closing
Day 5
:00-:60 – Math Games, Catch Up Work, Intervention, and Assessment
75 Minute Math Block Schedule Examples
If you have 75 minutes to teach math, then check out these math block schedule examples:
Option A: All 4 Rotations Every Day
:00-:15 – Mini Lesson
:15-:16 – Transition (from the whole group area to the first rotation)
:16-:28 – Math Workshop Rotations 1
:28-:29 – Transition (from the first rotation to the second rotation)
:29-:41 – Math Workshop Rotations 2
:41-:42 – Transition (from the second rotation to the third rotation)
:42-:54 – Math Workshop Rotations 3
:54-:55 – Transition (from the third rotation to the fourth rotation)
:55-:67 – Math Workshop Rotations 4
:67-:68 – Transition (from the fourth rotation to the whole group area)
:68-:75 – Closing
Option B: 2 Rotations Each Day
Days 1 & 3
:00-:15 – Mini Lesson
:15-:16 – Transition (from the whole group area to the first rotation)
:16-:41 – Math Workshop Rotation 1
:41-:42 – Transition (from the first rotation to the second rotation)
:42-:67 – Math Workshop Rotation 2
:67-:68 – Transition (from the second rotation to the whole group area)
:68-:75 – Closing
Days 2 & 4
:00-:15 – Mini Lesson
:15-:16 – Transition (from the whole group area to the third rotation)
:16-:41 – Math Workshop Rotation 3
:41-:42 – Transition (from the third rotation to the fourth rotation)
:42-:67 – Math Workshop Rotation 4
:67-:68 – Transition (from the fourth rotation to the whole group area)
:68-:75 – Closing
Day 5
:00-:75 – Math Games, Catch Up Work, Intervention, and Assessment
90 Minute Math Block Schedule Examples
If you have 90 minutes to teach math, then check out these math block schedule examples:
Option A: All 4 Rotations Every Day
:00-:15 – Mini Lesson
:15-:16 – Transition (from the whole group area to the first rotation)
:16-:31 Math Workshop Rotations 1
:31-:32 – Transition (from the first rotation to the second rotation)
:32-:47 – Math Workshop Rotations 2
:47-:48 – Transition (from the second rotation to the third rotation)
:48-:63 – Math Workshop Rotations 3
:63-:64 – Transition (from the third rotation to the fourth rotation)
:64-:79 – Math Workshop Rotations 4
:79-:80 – Transition (from the fourth rotation to the whole group area)
:80-:90 – Closing
Option B: 2 Rotations Each Day
Days 1 & 3
:00-:15 – Mini Lesson
:15-:16 – Transition (from the whole group area to the first rotation)
:16-:46 – Math Workshop Rotation 1
:46-:47 – Transition (from the first rotation to the second rotation)
:47-:77 – Math Workshop Rotation 2
:77-:78 – Transition (from the second rotation to the whole group area)
:78-:90 – Closing
Days 2 & 4
:00-:15 – Mini Lesson
:15-:16 – Transition (from the whole group area to the third rotation)
:16-:46 – Math Workshop Rotation 3
:46-:47 – Transition (from the third rotation to the fourth rotation)
:47-:77 – Math Workshop Rotation 4
:77-:78 – Transition (from the fourth rotation to the whole group area)
:78-:90 – Closing
Day 5
:00-:90 – Math Games, Catch Up Work, Intervention, and Assessment
Try a Collection of our Math Resources for Free!
We hope this information about math block schedules is helpful and would love for you to try these math resources with your students. They offer elementary students opportunities to practice grade level concepts and skills in fun and engaging ways. You can download worksheets specific to your grade level (along with lots of other math freebies) in our free printable math resources bundle using this link: free printable math activities for elementary teachers.
Check out these other math resources!
