I'm done! Now, what can I do in Math?

The words “I’m done” can sound like nails scraping against a chalkboard to the teacher that planned for a math lesson to extend for a certain amount of time, and a student, or students, finish it in five minutes. What does finishing early indicate? What happens to the student that has fifteen minutes to spare with nothing to do?  What can these students do in the remaining block of time?

Finishing early can provide the teacher with a great deal of information about a student. If the student finishes math problems early, and the answers are correct, the teacher knows that the student has an understanding of the concept. This also shows the teacher that this student could use more rigor in this skill. Early finishers can also be an indication of giftedness. The teacher must prepare to have work on hand that is more challenging for the student.

If a student has nothing to do, several things can occur. Students may find something to do that is not considered appropriate. Some students will simply take out a book and read for the remaining amount of time. Others will become bored with the down time, and begin to look at the lesson as boring.

Here are some solutions for the early finisher in math. Create a bulletin board or a basket that has math challenges. If students are doing two-digit subtraction with regrouping, put problems in the center that have three digits. Put a Sudoku puzzle in the basket as another fun challenge. They can be modified for the different grade levels by decreasing the number of blocks in the grid. Lastly, give students math mysteries or riddles to solve. Choose some that are on the same skill but require multi-steps and critical thinking.

Now, being done early does not have to be a problem for the teacher or the student. Set up a bulletin board or basket with activities and keep students thinking and challenged. Make the most of every moment in a student’s day.

Ways to Challenge Students Who Finish Math Work Quickly:

Weekly Math Challenge

Create a bulletin board with math challenges. Each week post a new challenge. Students solve the challenges in a Math Challenge notebook that they create. Add clues to the challenge if students seem to struggle. Have students turn in the challenge notebook each week and offer incentives like bonus quiz points or a Challenge Math Star board where students are given weekly stars for successfully completing a challenge.

Math Enrichment for a Differentiated Classroom

Students can move around the room to various enrichment centers. One center involves having a box with math problems that the students can solve independently. A center called Col and Snort involves solving math logic problems. Lastly, students can work with a partner to play math strategy games.

Geometry Center Games

This lesson plan has eight ideas for math centers geared toward first graders, but it could be modified for other grade levels. The names of some of the centers are Tangram Magic, 1-100 Puzzle, and Geo-shapes. Students can work independently or with a partner.

Math Maven Fractions

Students use problem solving and higher-level thinking skills to solve these math mysteries. Three mysteries are included in this lesson, but there are many more available that address skills such as probability, measurement, patterns, etc. When students have solved the mystery, they can challenge themselves by creating their own math mystery.