One of the biggest questions I get about math instruction is “How do I fit everything in?”

Many teachers email me because they want to do a guided math approach and incorporate small groups and math centers, but they are not sure how to fit it all in with their limited time or their large class sizes. If this sounds a bit like you, you are in the right place.

Let’s look at some different ways you can schedule your math block for guided math instruction. I will mention that these are ways that I recommend based on what has worked for me and my students. With any schedule you try, make sure you are flexible based on how your students respond and how their learning progresses.

This post will be broken down into the three main time frames that teachers report having. From there, each time frame will have several suggestions based on your needs and instructional styles.

This blog post is pretty lengthy so make sure you use the headings to go straight to the time frame you have for math.

Note: Whole group instruction is the term I am using to mean any type of instruction that is not guided math centers. For me, whole group instruction varies and includes many different components. Whole group instruction can include games, math talks, math groups, review activities such as Scoot or a gallery walk, math explorations, etc. Whole group instruction can even be rotations where you teach half the class, while the other half is working independently, and then swap.

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Scheduling Your Guided Math Block with 45 Minutes of Math Instruction

For this time-frame it is virtually impossible to do guided math centers daily. Here are two options that I recommend for this timeframe.

Option 1:

Use an A/B schedule which alternates whole group lessons (which you can still pull in small groups-read more about that here) and guided math centers.

Here are two examples of how that could look:

As you can see on the B schedule days, you have your students complete two rotations for about 20 minutes each. If you have a bit more leeway with your schedule, you could try to fit in three rotations on those days.

What do math centers look like for this option?

Small-Medium class sizes: four student groups and four math rotations, each student will visit each center once

Large class sizes: six student groups and six math center rotations. This option is not ideal because all of your groups will not visit each math center in a week, unless you are able to squeeze in three rotations a day. Another option to combat this is with some extra scheduling on your part and having the math centers carry over to the next week. Only change them out once all of your groups have gone through the math centers once.

Option 2:

Another option is to have whole group lessons four days a week, do a quick assessment on Thursday, and then guided math centers on Friday only. Use the data from your assessment on Thursday to guide what you put in your math centers and to guide who you pull for your small group teaching.

If you are concerned about not getting enough time for instruction in, this option is a great way to ease into math centers. On the other days, you can still pull a small group after your whole group instruction.

What do math centers look like for this option?

The limitation of this option is that your students will not be able to visit all the centers unless you have a very small class. Or you could have multiple versions of the same center and have two groups completing the center at at a time. Here is an example:

Group 1: Task Card Center

Group 2: Task Card Center at a different location in the room and with a duplicate set of cards

Group 3: Roll and Answer Partner Games

Group 4: Roll and Answer Partner Games at a different location in the room with a duplicate set of games

Group 4: Teacher Time

In the 45 minutes, the students would visit two rotations, scheduled or chosen by the students (I prefer to schedule mine).

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Scheduling Your Guided Math Block with 60 Minutes of Math Instruction

From what I have heard from teachers, this is the most common time frame they have. Here are two options that I always recommend with 60 minutes of math instruction daily.

Option 1:

Monday and Tuesday – The first two days of the week are used for whole group instruction with small group re-teaching during independent practice.

Wednesday and Thursday – Guided Math Rotations – three rotations a day, twenty minutes for each rotation

Friday- Assessment, reteaching groups, math game day, or math center catch up

What do math centers look like for this option?

Small-Medium class sizes: three groups and three math center rotations which the student will visit twice

Large class size: six groups and six math center rotations which the student will visit once

Option 2:

40 Minutes Whole Group/Independent Practice and One Center Rotation a Day

What do math centers look like for this option?

The best way to do this type of schedule is to have five groups, and five math center rotations, which the students will visit once.

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Scheduling Your Guided Math Block with 90 Minutes of Math Instruction

This is the time-frame I typically have during my math instruction.  What I do is very similar to what I shared above for the first option for a 60 minute schedule.

Option 1:

Here is what my typical week looks like.

Monday and Tuesday – The first two days of the week are used for whole group instruction with small group re-teaching during independent practice.

Wednesday and Thursday – Guided Math Rotations – four rotations a day (twenty minutes for each rotation) and 10 minute closing/exit slip.

Friday- Assess the students and pull small groups based on assessments while the other students choose math centers (or finish up math center work not previously completed).

What do math centers look like for this option?

Small- Medium Class Size: Four groups and four math center rotations, students will visit each math center rotation twice

Large Class Size: Six groups and six math center rotations, some students will visit each center twice while others only once. You can continue the rotation into the next week an only change them out once each student as visited the same center twice.

Option 2:

This time-frame for math instruction is really the only one I recommend considering doing math centers every day. Here is what your day could look like:

Monday- Thursday:  30-45 Minute Whole Group and Independent Practice and 45-60 Minutes of Centers and Small Group (students visiting two math centers a day)

Friday: Whole group instruction, assessment, reteaching groups, math game day, or math center catch up

What do math centers look like for this option?

Small- Medium Class Size: Five math groups and five math center rotations which the students will visit twice in a week

Large Class Size: Six groups and six math center rotations, some students will visit each center twice while others only once. You can continue the rotation the first day of the next so each student will see the center twice before you change it out.

Want printable copies of these schedules? Click here or on the image to download them.

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Common Questions

Why do you have so much time built in for whole group instruction?

I have found that in upper elementary (especially fourth and fifth grade), whole group instruction is very valuable and necessary to get the meat of the instruction taught. Whole group instruction can take many forms. It is not always the teachers teaching and the students listening and taking notes. Whole group instruction can include many components (number talks, small math groups, review games, mini lesson + independent practice, etc.)

How much instruction time do you spend assessing your students?

As little as possible. I use exit slips daily so I always have a general idea of how my students are doing on skills. For more formal assessments, I use quick assessments that show me what the students are able to do without using my precious instruction time. You can see the fifth grade ones I use here. I also have fourth grade which you can see here.

If my students visit a center more than once in a week, does that mean I need to prepare two different tasks for each center for each week?

You can, but I don’t recommend it. Since each center is around 15-20 minutes long, choose a task that will take around 40 minutes for the average student to complete. Have an early finisher plan in place for your early finishers. I recommend choice boards because they are easy to prep and the students enjoy completing them. You can read more about the math choice boards I have available here.

What are some centers I can have my students do?

Here are some choices for centers that are low-prep, engaging, and consistent:

• Word Problem Center: Use any word problems found or purchased online or created by the teacher in this center.
• Paper and Pencil Center: The students know that this is always some type of independent practice found on paper. I do use my mini-review booklets to keep it a little new and engaging for the students. I also use Error Analysis Math Tasks in this center, and the students love them!
• Task Card Center: Task cards are a staple center in my classroom. They are perfect for providing that much needed practice in an engaging format.
• Partner Game Center: I always have at least one partner center in my math center rotation. I tend to stay away from small group centers and have found that two students working together is the perfect number. I use my Roll and Answer Math Centers to keep the games consistent. The focus is on the content and not learning a new game each week.
• Computer or Tablet Center: I have used Xtramath for math facts and Vmathlive (paid site through my district) for the computer and Splashmath (paid, but affordable, app) for the tablets.
• Choice Board Center: Choice boards work as a separate center or as an early finisher activity. One board could last an entire week and be due on Friday.
• Math Sorts Center: Math sorts are a perfect way to bring in some hands-on math practice into your math rotation.
• Math Journaling Center: Math journal prompts are a great way to get the students writing and thinking about math on a consistent basis.

This seems like a lot to grade. How can I assess math centers without spending hours?

Check out this post with ideas for assessing math centers.

I am concerned about classroom management. How do you keep your students on task and behaving?

Check out this post for ideas for managing math centers.

What does a traditional whole group lesson look like?

Read this post to read a detailed breakdown of a whole group lesson.

Math centers are completely new to me. Do you have any tips for getting started?

Yes, I do! Check out this post for tips for getting started with math centers.

What does the teacher do during math centers?

I teach a small group part of the math center rotations, known as Teacher Time. Other options include teaching small groups that you pull from math centers or conducting math conferences.

How can I differentiate for my struggling students?

To read seven ways to support your students in math centers, click here.

You have a lot of different math center resources. Do you have one resource that you recommend for someone just getting started?

I have math center bundles that include 2-3 centers for every common core standard. Click on the links below to check them out:

3rd Grade Math Centers

4th Grade Math Centers

5th Grade Math Centers

Need Math Centers and Activities?