Meaningful Small Groups in Math, Grades K-5: Meeting All Learners' Needs in Any Setting

by Kimberly Ann Rimbey

Overview

Written for teachers, interventionists and instructional coaches, this book provides much-needed guidance on how to meet the diverse needs of students using small-group math instruction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781071854662
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	09/30/2022
Series:	Corwin Mathematics Series
Pages:	280
Sales rank:	148,551
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Kimberly Rimbey serves as the Chief Learning Officer at KP® Mathematics. A life-long teacher and learner, her heart’s work centers on equipping teachers and helping them fall in love with teaching and learning over and over again. Kim’s interests include high-quality professional learning models, building conceptual understanding through multiple representations and meaningful discourse, and building pedagogical content knowledge that goes beyond the theoretical and into the classroom. Always a teacher at heart, Kim has served the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Buckeye Elementary School District, Chief Learning Officer for the Rodel Foundation of Arizona and the Mathematics Program Area Coordinator for the Paradise Valley School District.

Everything Kim has done in her career is based on what she learned during her 18 years as a mathematics coach and elementary classroom teacher. Having started her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher, she frequently says that everything she needed to know about teaching, she learned in kindergarten. Kim is National Board Certified in Early Adolescent Mathematics, and she is a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching. Kim is the co-inventor of KP® Ten-Frame Tiles and has authored and co-authored several publications, including Mastering Math Manipulatives for Corwin, The Amazing Ten Frame Series for KP Mathematics, The Amazing Ten Frame Series for KP Mathematics and Math Power: Simple Solutions for Mastering Math for the Rodel Foundation of Arizona. Kim earned her BA is in Elementary Education and Mathematics from Grand Canyon University, her M.Ed. degrees in Early Childhood Education and Educational Leadership from Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University, and her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xv

About the Author xvii

Preface xix

Part A Math Small Group Basics 1

How to Use Part A 1

Chapter 1 Making the Case for Math Small Groups 3

Chapter Introduction 3

What Is the Purpose of Math Small Groups? 4

Why Are Math Small Groups Important? 4

Which Math Small Group Structure Works Best? 6

Why Should I Focus on Strengths? 8

How Do Math Small Groups Fit Into a Math Block Schedule? 9

What Might a Math Small Group Session Look Like? 11

Your Turn 12

Chapter 2 Setting Up Math Small Groups 13

Chapter Introduction 13

What Is the Ideal Group Size? 13

What Is the Ideal Duration and Time Frame? 14

What Should Happen During a Math Small Group Session? 15

How Do I Choose My Daily Instructional Focus? 18

How Do I Motivate Reluctant Students? 20

What Does the Rest of the Class Do? 21

How Do I Minimize Interruptions? 24

How Do I Set Up My Math Small Group Space? 26

How Do I Determine Group Membership for Each Math Small Group? 34

Your Turn 40

Chapter 3 Planning for Math Small Group Instruction 43

Chapter Introduction 43

How Do I Avoid Show-and-Tell Teaching? 44

How Do I Plan for Just-Right Math Content? 45

How Do I Plan for Mathematical Rigor? 46

How Do I Keep My Small Group Members on Track? 47

How Do I Select Just-Right Math Routines? 50

How Do I Plan What to Do Before, During, and After the Task? 51

Can I Use Games During My Math Small Group Sessions? 51

At the End of the Lesson, How Do I Help My Students See That Learning Took Place? 52

How Do I Make Sure I Don't Forget Anything? 53

Your Turn 54

Chapter 4 Targeting the Math, Supporting the Students, Providing Access for All 57

Chapter Introduction 57

Let the Math Take the Lead 58

The Math Small Group Framework 59

Your Turn 70

Part B Planning for and Teaching Math Small Groups 71

How to Use Part B 71

Chapter 5 Counting and Cardinality 73

Chapter Introduction 73

Counting and Cardinality: An Overview 73

Focus on Math: Math Content Trajectory for Counting and Cardinality 75

Math Tools to Support This Trajectory 79

Identify Strengths: Sample Prompts for Detecting Learners' Content Strengths 83

Create Pathways: Sample Teacher-Facilitated Small Group Lessons 85

Your Turn 92

Chapter 6 Early Number Sense 93

Chapter Introduction 93

Early Number Sense: An Overview 94

Focus on Math: Math Content Trajectory for Early Number Sense 95

Math Tools to Support This Trajectory 98

Identify Strengths: Sample Prompts for Detecting Learners' Content Strengths 102

Create Pathways: Sample Teacher-Facilitated Small Group Lessons 104

Your Turn 111

Chapter 7 Base-Ten Place Value 113

Chapter Introduction 113

Base-Ten Place Value: An Overview 113

Focus on Math: Math Content Trajectory for Understanding Place Value 115

Math Tools to Support This Trajectory 118

Identify Strengths: Sample Prompts for Detecting Learners' Content Strengths 122

Create Pathways: Sample Teacher-Facilitated Small Group Lessons 125

Your Turn 133

Chapter 8 Base-Ten Addition and Subtraction 135

Chapter Introduction 135

Base-Ten Addition and Subtraction: An Overview 135

Focus on Math: Math Content Trajectories for Base-Ten Addition and Subtraction 138

Math Tools to Support These Trajectories 141

Identify Strengths: Sample Prompts for Detecting Learners' Content Strengths 145

Create Pathways: Sample Teacher-Facilitated Small Group Lessons 147

Your Turn 156

Chapter 9 Base-Ten Multiplication and Division 157

Chapter Introduction 157

Base-Ten Multiplication and Division: An Overview 158

Focus on Math: Math Content Trajectories for Base-Ten Multiplication and Division 160

Math Tools to Support These Trajectories 164

Identify Strengths: Sample Prompts for Detecting Learners' Content Strengths 170

Create Pathways: Sample Teacher-Facilitated Small Group Lessons 172

Your Turn 179

Chapter 10 Fraction Foundations 181

Chapter Introduction 181

Fraction Foundations: An Overview 181

Focus on Math: Math Content Trajectory for Fraction Foundations 184

Math Tools to Support This Trajectory 187

Identify Strengths: Sample Prompts for Detecting Learners' Content Strengths 189

Create Pathways: Sample Teacher-Facilitated Small Group Lessons 190

Your Turn 198

Chapter 11 Fraction Operations 199

Chapter Introduction 199

Fraction Operations: An Overview 200

Focus on Math: Math Content Trajectories for Fraction Operations 201

Math Tools to Support These Trajectories 203

Identify Strengths: Sample Prompts for Detecting Learners' Content Strengths 206

Create Pathways: Sample Teacher-Facilitated Small Group Lessons 207

Your Turn 214

Chapter 12 Fraction and Decimal Connections 215

Chapter Introduction 215

Fraction and Decimal Connections: An Overview 216

Focus on Math: Math Content Trajectory for Fraction and Decimal Connections 218

Math Tools to Support This Trajectory 220

Identify Strengths: Sample Prompts for Detecting Learners' Content Strengths 223

Create Pathways: Sample Teacher-Facilitated Small Group Lessons 224

Your Turn 232

Final Words 233

Appendix A Tips for Coaches and Leaders 235

Appendix B Sources on Topics Related to Math Small Groups 243

References 245

Index 247

Editorial Reviews

This comprehensive resource provides the what, why, and how for effectively implementing small group instruction to support every student! Part A provides excellent suggestions, clearly based in experience, and Part B pairs important content with small group lesson ideas. Such a great resource for ensuring students develop confidence and competence in mathematics!

Louisville, KY - Jennifer Bay-Williams

Kimberly Rimbey’s book Meaningful Small Groups in Math is a teacher’s delight. Rimbey’s years of teaching, coaching, and designing come through clearly in every word. Organized around questions teachers would have when considering and implementing math groups—as well as questions teachers may not think to ask but are important—Rimbey writes the book in findable and understandable terms including chapter overviews, learning targets, success criteria—everything we know we should do in a lesson for our own students! Rimbey is an expert at taking the goal of small group learning and showing it in multiple structures that can be integrated with any math program. The practicality of this book is sure to win
teachers’ hearts. This book is a must for every elementary math teacher. I applaud Dr. Rimbey’s flexibility and multiple examples of using various structures and designs for planning so that there is sure to be a comfortable approach to beginning, extending, or revamping math groups for every teacher!

Glendale, AZ - Nanci Smith

Small group instruction is such an important part of the learning cycle. Dr. Rimbey breaks down why and then shows teachers, in plain language, how to set up and successfully run teacher-facilitated small groups. She pays extra attention to how different types of groups are used for different instructional purposes and supports teachers in judiciously matching a type of group with a learning need. As if that weren’t enough, Dr. Rimbey then breaks down the essential pieces of different elementary mathematics topics and then uses those pieces to show how a particular small grouping strategy elevates that content and makes it more accessible to all students. This book is a must-read for any elementary mathematics teacher or leader.

Provincetown, MA - Paul Gray

Meaningful Small Groups in Math provides teachers with two critical elements for success—practical strategies for managing small groups and thoughtful content trajectories for identifying the right learning for students in small groups. Building on the author’s rich classroom and coaching experience, the book provides support for creating and managing small groups in a variety of classroom contexts and structures. And building on the author’s deep content knowledge, the book organizes potential activities along content trajectories, helping teachers keep students moving forward in their learning. Dr. Kimberly Rimbey has written an excellent addition to our professional libraries.

Kent, OH - Sara Delano Moore

As teachers move away from whole class instruction, they are often challenged by exactly what a small group lesson should look like and how to go about planning one. The sample lessons in this book follow math content trajectories across grade levels, with formative assessment ideas to help teachers form their groups. The Explore Before Explain (Eb4E) approach used in the lessons allows students to actively participate in concept development, with the teacher serving as a facilitator. This is a book that should be on your bookshelf!

Houston, TX - Donna Boucher

Meaningful Small Groups in Math lays the groundwork for how to create effective mathematics small group instruction. Through vignettes and resources, this book supports your journey to empower student voice and ensure that every child has access to relevant, rich, and meaningful mathematics. This book emphasizes students’ assets and shares how to build upon student strengths. You will walk away with practical ideas for how to plan and create teacher-facilitated math small groups to grow students’ mathematical understandings.

Tucson, AZ - Mona Toncheff

In Meaningful Small Groups in Math: Meeting All Learners’ Needs in Any Setting, Kimberly Rimbey offers us detailed suggestions on how to get the most out of students working in small groups. These details cover everything from tasks to group size, from how to form the groups to where these groups, once formed, could work. We learn how to answer questions and prompt thinking, and we are provided with detailed lesson plans, planning templates, and resources across a wide range of K–5 mathematics topics. Kimberly Rimbey leaves no stone unturned. I highly recommend this book to any K–5 teacher who is starting to think about using group work as well as any teacher who wants to reexamine and revitalize their use of group work in the classroom.

Vancouver, BC, Canada - Peter Liljedahl

With Meaningful Small Groups in Math, Dr. Rimbey offers K–5 teachers a versatile approach to teaching small group lessons in a variety of instructional structures. Her approach is practical, clearly described, and focused on effectively building upon students’ mathematical strengths with well-planned lessons. As a valuable resource for teachers who want to “let math take the lead,” Rimbey includes a Math Small Group Standards Trajectory Document that clearly maps out the interrelatedness of the standards in each domain—something I wish had been available when I was teaching. While the first part of the book provides guidance on how to get started with math small group lessons, the second part of the book delves into how to create and teach rigorous, engaging lessons with sample plans. Both beginning and experienced teachers will find this book to be an invaluable guide for teaching math using small group lessons, which to me is an essential instructional strategy for supporting the needs of all students.

Thetford Center, VT - Laney Sammons

Rimbey raises the use of small groups to an art form. Small groups are the mainstay of much of mathematics instruction in the form of collaborative and cooperative groups, yet understanding how to organize and facilitate small groups is not always a part of teacher preparation programs or professional learning experiences. How can we better make these opportunities an ideal way to foster student thinking and reasoning, the sharing of ideas in safe spaces, and the inquiry-oriented approach we prize? Meaningful Small Groups in Math guides you through this common configuration. With the wisdom and insight Rimbey gleaned from years of experience, you will find what you need to effectively use small groups. Dig in to find practical approaches, routines, content examples, and ways to make each and every child’s voice prominent as they engage in productive ways to showcase their strengths.

Baltimore, MD - Karen Karp

We all know that active engagement—thinking, talking, collaborating, and figuring out—is the key to learning. We also know that small group, teacher-facilitated work is one way to generate this active engagement. But it’s not easy. That’s where Dr. Rimbey’s wonderfully practical and informative book Meaningful Small Groups in Math becomes a powerful resource. With a clear and punchy style—and a slew of examples and models—it’s like Kim was your friend and coach talking with you over coffee about what to do, why to do it, and how to do it when it comes to shifting math instruction for the better for all of our students.

Washington, DC - Steve Leinwand

An essential resource for K–5 mathematics teaching! What a brilliant, practical guide for teachers in using small groups effectively to engage each and every student in powerful mathematics learning! Whether you are just beginning to use small group strategies or you are experienced, there is something for everyone. Rimbey’s Meaningful Small Groups in Math is a resource for teachers, mathematics coaches, and instructional specialists.

Waco, TX - Trena L. Wilkerson

Meaningful Small Groups in Math answers all your burning questions and provides templates and example vignettes that make visualizing this work in your own classroom achievable. Whether you have used small-group instruction extensively, or you are looking to begin, Kimberly Rimbey’s Meaningful Small Groups in Math gives you exactly what you need . . . and then some! Rimbey masterfully weaves the what, why, when, and—most importantly—the how into an easy-to-read book chock full of resources and evidence-based routines.

Cambridge, MA - Hilary Kreisberg

This book offers a wealth of tips, strategies, and resources for designing effective and engaging small group instruction. You will find the answer to any question you can imagine including how small group instruction benefits students, ways to design small group lessons, thoughts on session duration, discussions of group membership, and even ideas for setting up the classroom to maximize small group instruction. The planning ideas related to some critical K–5 math topics (like counting and cardinality, base-ten addition/subtraction and multiplication/ division, and varied fraction and decimal skills) are an added benefit. This is a valuable resource for any teacher interested in beginning, or enhancing, small group instruction in their K–5 classrooms!

Millersville, MD - Sue O’Connell

Mathematics is a beautiful, human enterprise and all humans should be given the opportunity to properly experience its wonder and awe, even our society's youngest of humans. We want our students to know, and always believe, that they are genuinely invited to mathematics. Dr. Rimbey's resource shows how.

Paradise Valley, AZ - James Tanton

Facilitating small group instruction in our math classrooms can be one of the most challenging goals we set out to accomplish each year, but where do we begin? From the size and type of group to what is happening in small groups, and when it’s happening, it can all be overwhelming. Meaningful Small Groups in Math thoughtfully unpacks the smaller nuances and questions surrounding small groups and offers the tools teachers need to meet the needs of the students they support.

Atlanta, GA - Graham Fletcher