Guided math lessons are easy to plan once you understand how.
The best idea about guided math lessons is that they don’t have to be about doing a worksheet. The students can model equations with base ten units, write the equation on dry erase boards, or draw a picture and solve it in a math journal.
In this picture, students are practicing multiplication of 2 digit numbers by one digit number.
Guided Math lessons meet the needs of students in small group settings like with Telling Time.
One guided math lesson for fourth grade had students use base ten units to model long division. Then they wrote the procedures on dry erase boards. We continued this for three days. We did easier problems like 69 divided by 3 and 42 divided by 2. The next few days we modeled and wrote division problems like 142 divided by 2 and 384 divided by 4. By the time we got to problems with remainders the students could model it, write the problem, and solve it. Then teachers can give students in the teacher-led group a worksheet.
Second Grade teachers practice solving story problems with a partner during guided math group.
Basically, anything you would teach in large group you can use as guided group lessons. In fact, it is easier to teach it in a small group setting because there are less students to guide. Use the small group setting to have students model equations, solve problems, and verbalize solutions. These guided math lessons are always based on Common Core State Standards and improving student needs.