If you’re like most educators, you probably love a good routine - a predictable, habitual series of tasks that are done so often they become second-nature. We all know that classroom routines maximize learning time, manage behavior expectations, and create stability and consistency for students. Instructional routines work the same way, but instead of focusing on classroom management, they focus on student learning. Math instructional routines build a framework for how students think about and approach problem-solving. By putting more emphasis on mathematical thinking and less emphasis on the correct answer, instructional routines develop students’ confidence in themselves as mathematicians. These routines utilize a low-floor, high-ceiling approach that allow all learners to access the mathematical concepts and practices. In this session, we will explore the benefits of utilizing math instructional routines and learn how to implement them in the classroom. We will focus on two highly engaging routines: Choral Counts and Counting Collections. These routines require minimal prep time and can be used with any math content. The session will focus on utilizing instructional routines in the elementary math classroom, but the principles and strategies can be utilized in middle school and high school math classrooms as well.
