Problem Solving

I am trying to facilitate more student problem solving in my classroom this year.  When students have questions, I respond with questions.  Instead of me giving answers, I ask them what they think.  I ask them what they have tried, have you looked for a similar example in your textbook or notes?  Have you asked another student in the class?  Their first response is frustration, but their understanding is much deeper when they discover the answer on their own.

Classroom Space & Grouping

I have changed how I use the space in my math classroom this year.  Most of the week, students are in pods of 4, the grouping is based on their fall math MAP scores.  One or two days a week, the desks are turned so students can work in pairs, depending on the lesson/activity of the day.  I have received mixed feedback from students about the new math arrangements, but there have been more positive than negative responses to the grouping.  I find that I can move around the classroom and facilitate better with the new arrangement.

I want to encourage group work and problem solving this year in math, and think having students sitting in groups will facilitate this better than traditional rows.  They are slowly getting better at working together, asking each other questions, staying on task, and using their math vocabulary.  It is not perfect yet, but it is a step closer to a learner focused math classroom instead of a teacher focused math classroom.

Question:  What have you found to be the best classroom setup to facilitate group work?