Instructional Routines

First Weeks of School

One of the simplest ways to set the tone for every math class is with a short instructional routine. Each lesson begins with a 3–5-minute activity that builds automaticity with counting and calculating, frees up mental space for deeper thinking, and gives students a confidence boost right from the start.

Math Chat
Creates an open-ended space for sharing mental math strategies and developing number sense, flexibility, efficiency, and accuracy.

Always, Sometimes, Never
Promotes sensemaking and discussion as students support a claim with examples.

Co-Construction
Provides structured support for contextualizing and decontextualizing problems, helping students build abstract reasoning.

Which One Doesn’t Belong
Promotes metacognition and discourse as students use precise language to compare different representations.

Explore additional fluency routines in your User Guide for more options to vary your lesson openings.