Want to get your students up and moving? Try a Write the Room! I love Write the Room’s, because they get students up out of their desks and doing math at the same time! This is a wonderful way to see how students are doing with a concept, or as a review. Check out the video I uploaded at the end of this post, if you have more questions!
What is a Write the Room?
You might not have ever done a Write the Room and are thinking, how does it work? In a Write the Room Activity the teacher prints out the task cards (and laminates them if you want to reuse them ;)) and places them around the classroom or hallway. The students each get a recording sheet and something hard to write on. Then students find the different task cards, record the equation on the sheet and solve the answer (for example, if they find task card 4. 10 + 10, then in box four they write 10 + 10 = 20)!
What is a Scoot Activity?
A Scoot Activity works the same. The teacher will print and laminate the task cards. The cards are then placed on students desks or if you would like to on the floor. Students each write down the equation from each task card in the correct box and solve the answer. When everyone is done the teacher announces “Scoot” and the students leave the task card where it is, but take their recording sheet and pencil and scoot to the next seat. This continues until all the students have recorded their answers. This is a fun activity for students, there is just something about sitting in someone else’s desk.
How do I use this activity in a Math Center?
I have used this activity in a Math Center lots. Sometimes I have students who are at different levels, but I still want them doing a similar academic activity, so I might have a group that is working on addition within 20 at one center. The next center might have students working on Double-Digit Addition Without Regrouping. This allows me to have students engaged, while feeling including in the same activity, but also that is at their level. Students have to answer the task cards and record them on their recording sheet, while working with their peers.
The wonderful thing about this resource is that it is very versatile and can be used for three different types of activities (as a write the room activity, scoot activity or as a math center). So you are able to switch up the activity for a group of students, or from year-to-year while only prepping ONE resource instead of three! It is also wonderful because it is a VERY low prep activity! Meaning you have to print 4-5 pages in color (or in black and white if you don’t have color), cut the cards out and laminate! Boom, done! I also have created 12 different recording sheets, so you will be able to have one that fits the needs in your class! I have created a variety of Write the Room activities with different abilities, scope and sequences and different holiday/themes in mind.
I have created a variety of Write the Room activities for multiple topics and themes. From Addition/Subtraction Within 10 and 20 all the way up to Triple-Digit Addition/Subtraction. I have also created, place value, odd and even, greater than less than and number sense within 100 activities. They are some of my favorite activities that I use from year to year.
Please let me know if you use Write the Room Activities in your classroom? Do your students love them as much as mine?!
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