Last year, I tried something new—and it made a bigger difference than I expected.
I created a simple weekly routine to help my students retain math concepts I had just finished teaching. It wasn’t flashy or time-consuming. In fact, it only took about 5 minutes a day. But this one change completely shifted how I did morning work and how well my students actually understood what I was teaching them.
Why I Ditched Traditional Morning Work
Before I made the switch, 75% of my students were not finishing their morning work. It was too long, too overwhelming, and honestly—not that effective. Students were unmotivated and frustrated, and I wasn’t even checking it because… it was long for me, too.
That kind of start to the day wasn’t helping anyone.
So I changed it.
What I Used Instead
I replaced traditional morning work with something I called a Weekly Math Skills Check. Each week focused on one math concept I had taught the week before—like 2-digit addition, multiplication, fractions on a number line, or area and perimeter.
Each day, students solved just 1–2 problems aligned to that week’s skill.
The short format completely changed the vibe in my classroom. Students felt encouraged instead of defeated. It didn’t look overwhelming, and they knew they could finish it and get feedback. I was finally able to check their work in the moment and actually help them grow.
Why It Worked
The real power of this system wasn’t in the worksheet itself—it was in the real-time, one-on-one feedback I could give my students.
When they brought me their work, I could quickly spot and correct any misunderstandings before they became ingrained. Yes, some mornings I wanted to pull my hair out when multiple students had the same misconception, but ultimately, those moments gave me a crystal-clear picture of where to reteach or offer support.
By the time we moved on to new material, students had a much stronger grasp of the concepts we’d already covered.
What My Students Loved
They were motivated—not because I was giving a grade, but because they were eager to get to their morning choice activity. They knew the expectation: give your best effort, check your work with me, and then enjoy a little bit of free choice time.
It created a routine that was calm, purposeful, and productive.
Want to Try It in Your Classroom?
I’ve put together my full year of Weekly Math Skills Checks for 3rd Grade—with:
- 36 weeks of skill-based daily check-ins
- 5 bonus weeks for extra practice and flexible pacing
- Answer keys for quick feedback
- Printable and digital versions
- Individual and class-wide progress trackers
👉 Check out the full resource on TpT here!
Or grab a FREE 2-week sample to try it out with your students:
👉 Download the FREE Sample on TpT
This small shift in my morning routine had a big impact on my students’ math confidence and understanding. I hope it helps you and your students just as much!
Let me know if you have any questions—I’d love to hear how you use it in your classroom!
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