What is Math Workshop?

Math Workshop (MW) is a comprehensive, customized approach that addresses the needs of all students in a classroom. MW begins with a focus lesson where the teacher explicitly models a strategy or skill, or presents a provocation. After the focus lesson, the students investigate independently to practice the strategy or skill, or develop a solution to the provocation.

During independent problem solving, students use the focus skills and strategies to solve the proposed provocation or further develop focus lesson skills/strategies through math games, individual investigations, centers, and small-group or 1:1 instruction. One-to-one conferring allows the teacher to be sure students are successful in their application of skills/strategies or to provide targeted instruction around any particular needs.  

Finally, MW ends with a group share to expose mathematical thinking and guide discussion on "big ideas" and strategies.