Math Workshop Model
The Math Workshop Model is the teaching approach that involves students to be more active in the class and to have a better grasp of the subject matter in math. It is a hybrid of direct instruction, collaborative learning, and independent practice, enabling students to go through the topics intensively and according to their timetable.
The Math Workshop Model is made up of main elements that consist of mini-lessons, guided practice, independent work, and reflection. A usual classroom session starts the teacher with a mini-lesson that presents or reviews a concept, and then guided practice where students work together in small groups. Following that, students do an independent practice, which gives them the opportunity to use what they've learned before wrapping up with what they have reflected about the topic.
Math workshop model is the effective way to support differentiation in the class. Therefore it lets teachers plan activities for the different needs of the students. An example is this time of independent practice during which students choose tasks according to their skill levels—some of them might work on basic addition problems and others might tackle more complex word problems. Thus flexibility mobilizes the potential of the whole class and the students progress accordingly.
A Math Workshop session might begin with a mini-lesson on fractions, which might detail the adding of unlike denomniators fractions by the teacher. After this, pupils will be divided into small groups, and with the support of manipulatives, they will work on fraction problems. Following guided practice, they will then work on the worksheet on their own which consists of different levels of difficulty, and lastly, the session will close with a group's discussion reflecting on their strategies used.
The advantages of the Math Workshop Model are more involvement of students, better grasp of the subject matter, and more collaboration among fellow students. By the active involvement of the students in the learning process at first and the team work with peers, they can then concentrate not only on the learning of mathematics but also on the skills of critical thinking which eventually can lead to higher academic achievement.