Math Daily 3

Math Daily 3

Both the 2nd and 1st grade math blocks will be structured using the Math Daily 3.  This structure develop by sisters, Gail Boushey and Joan Moser, allows for 3 whole group mini lessons of 7-10 minutes in length each and 2 to 3 Math Daily 3 rounds of 20 to 30 minutes each (depending on the class stamina).  During the Math Daily 3 rounds, students get to select from the following math menu:

Math by Myself--Activities or games that students work on be themselves.  These activities are practice of current math concepts or a review of past math concepts.

Math Writing--Writing Activities that allow students to express their thinking and understanding of math problems and concepts through pictures, numbers, and words.

Math with Someone--Activities or games that require students to work with a partner.  As with Math by Myself these activities are practice of current math concepts or a review of past math concepts.

While students are working on meaningful math activities; I am able to remediate and enrich students in small flexible groups and confer or assess individual students.  

We will start our work in this structure on day 1 of school.  The above overview of the Math Daily 3 is a very progressive structure.  Student stamina (the amount of time a student is able to stay meaningfully engaged on a task) dictates how quickly each menu piece is introduced and the length of time each round lasts.  I will introduce Math by Myself first and add Math Writing when the students have been able to maintain stamina for approximately 10 to 12 minutes.  The final piece of Math Daily 3--Math with Someone is introduced when students have 10 to 12 minutes of stamina in Math Writing.  While this process will take several weeks, with lots of practice and routine building; the pay off of student independence within math is great!

The daily mini lessons will all follow the same math concept.  The first mini lesson of the day will be teacher led instruction.  The second mini lesson gives students the time to practice the concept with teacher support.  During the third mini lesson students will work on problems related to the concept either independently or with a partner.