Digital Math Centers in the Classroom

So, you’re back in the classroom and are so happy to teach face-to-face again. You want to jump right in and get your students engaged with some fun hands-on learning. Fast forward a few days, and your students are begging to play those great “games” that they loved so much during virtual learning. You guide them back to the math centers and the activities that have been collecting dust over the past semester. But, to no avail! They want those fun games!

Digital Math Learning Centers

This week, we are chatting about how to continue to keep your students happy by giving them back those fun learning games. Yes, you can incorporate digital math resources into your classroom. I’ve broken down how to do this into simple steps and systems to keep your math centers engaging and organized. Let’s get started.

If you were new to digital math resources when virtual learning began, you might feel a sense of relief that you can go back to traditional learning again. But, give me a few minutes before you put those digital resources in a folder that will get lost on your computer. You have to admit that your students had fun playing with the digital lessons. You might have even enjoyed the benefits of them yourself. So, let’s begin by creating these digital math centers slowly and effectively for student success. If you just love digital math resources and can’t wait to continue using them, then I’ve also got some great tips for you to stay organized and provide support for your students. 

Let’s Go Digital

For easing into the transition of having digital and traditional math stations in your classroom, start with only one or two digital stations. This will give you a chance to adjust your systems and see what works and what needs to be tweaked. You may find that students begin to argue about who gets to “play the math games”. This is where a good system will help you keep the peace and provide students a way of knowing when it’s their turn. Keep reading for some great tips on planning and systems. 

Digital math resources are fun for student learning but also there to help save you time. They can guide students through a lesson without needing your full attention. To make sure that you don’t waste valuable learning time elsewhere, keep a list of student usernames and passwords in a place that is easy for you and the students to find. You really don’t want a group of students asking for theirs all at once! Trust me, it gets loud and chaotic. 

Another great tip is to have the “fast play” feature set up so that no one has to log in. This is one of the great benefits of Boom Learning! If you know a certain day will have a lot going on with many interruptions, this feature is a must. Students can just go to the digital Boom lesson and go! No password, or stress, required.

Before introducing students to a digital math station, make sure that all of the students are properly registered. There is nothing more stressful than having to interrupt class time to register a student that got missed. Well, except an email telling us that school is going virtual again. Right? 

Digital Platforms

Speaking of registering, choose a digital platform that works well for you and your school. Some school districts are only allowing teachers to use specific platforms. If you’ve gone virtual before, you should know this. If not or you’re unsure, check with your administrators. When it’s your choice, search around to see what style you and your students might like. Also, if the digital math resources you used during virtual learning weren’t best suited for you and your kiddos, shop around for something different. Or, create your own digital math resource! I’ve got a free workbook to help you plan one out! Click here to get it! 

Google is a great platform for digital learning. With Google Classroom and Google Slides, students are engaged in fun, digital lessons. Google Classroom also gives you the reassurance that your students are participating in the activities. It allows you to monitor their participation when they are logged in. You are also able to assign students to specific lessons similar to when you provide them with a worksheet to turn in to help with much needed concepts and skills. And, you don’t have to grade them yourself! 

Planning/Systems for Math Centers

Planning

Planning is the key to creating successful digital math centers. Take into account who you place into each math-center group. You don’t want to put all of your “talkers” into the same group and have to manage their behavior throughout math-center time. I remember one teacher used to always sit me and my best friend next to each other during science activities. We were talkers! Then, she would get so upset that we did nothing but talk. I look back now and think that she definitely didn’t plan out partner pairs. LOL 

Next, take into account student abilities and needs. Create math-center groups with students of like abilities while also balancing it with students who need a little more help than the others. This will allow students to pair up and help those who need some scaffolding support. Like with hands-on math stations, plan to have lessons that students can work on independently and with a buddy.

Systems

Also, have a system for storage and organization of math stations. They should be clearly labeled with easy-to-read signage for young students. Try not to crowd them all together in one small area. Frequently switch them out, including your digital math lessons. Devices should also be easy for students to find. Make sure that students are familiar with the ones in the classroom. They may be different from ones they used at home. 

Finally, have systems in place. Students, and you, should know which math center they will be in each day. Use charts and schedules to keep chaos away. Posters for each math group can make scheduling easier. Use fun colors and characters (or their own pictures) for signs. Know how you will rotate the groups and how long each session will last. Don’t forget, nothing is set in stone. Move students between groups, if needed. Keep a running list of your math stations and the corresponding standard(s). This will keep it easy to rotate them throughout the year. 

Support for Digital Math Centers

Visuals are a teacher’s, and student’s, best friend in the classroom. They remind students how and when to do things, and they are like a free assistant when we are trying to do more than one thing at once. How many times have you stopped and pointed to a visual to guide one of your students? 

They can also walk a student through an activity that is new to them or when they are having a hard time catching on. Take screen shots of important parts of the digital math resource to help your students navigate the lessons. Include pictures of the students in these “visual demonstrations” to build classroom community.

Visuals can also assist students with important technological instructions. Having a poster with step-by-step instructions for logging in to a lesson will help them when you are busy assisting others, and it builds their self-help skills. Visuals can also remind students of website addresses and passwords. 

Kindergarten Math Centers

Side-by-side support helps young students when they become confused with a concept or skill. Move around the centers and ask students what they are learning. This gives you an opportunity to observe who may need more support. It is also a great excuse to sit and play a fun game with your students. 

Grade 1 & Grade 2 Math Centers

As students become more independent learners, we can become more confident in scheduling teacher-led small groups during math-center time. Including digital math resources in math stations provide students guidance and demonstrated examples within the digital resource itself. This frees up time for you to engage with your small-group learners. It also provides you more time to move around the room and observe. If your digital math resources do not include these important characteristics, don’t worry. I’ve got some examples of some of my teacher-loved resources to show you what I’m talking about. Check out the digital math resources above and below.

Don’t forget to follow up with your students and ask them open-ended questions about their time in their math centers. Some great questions to ask are:

• What math talk did you hear or use?
• How did you help someone in math centers today?
• What did you not like to do at math centers today?
• What did you learn today?

I hope this helps you transition back into the classroom and provides ideas on how to continue to use technology in your math centers. Student feedback is great to help you plan and understand your students’ interests and to help you know who may be confused with the lessons. 

Your feedback will also help me know what you want to hear more about and what you need help with. So, comment below and let me know what you are struggling with or how you are using digital math resources in your math centers. I really want to help! And, your ideas and comments could help another teacher struggling with the same problem. 

Until next week…

Jess @ Savvy Apple