Rationale

In mathematics one size does not fit all. Teachers have tried for decades to find ways to meet the needs of all children when teaching mathematics. Textbooks “cover” too much information and “hands on” programs don’t seem to cover enough. The solution is to find the right balance.
The Math Workshop is a way to begin the differentiation process. It is a supplemental program designed to work intricately with an existing math curriculum. The basic design of The Math Workshop is to allow children the time and repetition needed to grasp difficult concepts such as place value and number sense. The activities found in the program are innovative and engaging allowing children to use real life contexts in all the main strands found in the national math standards.
Another important feature that The Math Workshop uses is variety. There are puzzle problems and deductive reasoning problems blended in with more traditional skills such as rounding and using algorithms. The Math Workshop is interested in developing the whole brain and using activities that will help children make sense of what they are learning. It also allows students to work at a pace that is more conducive to their learning style. The program offers a differentiation component that allows children access to the same concepts but with different levels of difficulty.
The Math Workshop allows a look into a different kind of mathematics classroom. A classroom that combines the necessary skills of traditional teaching, with the essential component of a hands-on experience. It is a comprehensive plan that will give students a strong foundation to keep succeeding in mathematics.