Litamatics provides a winning 1-2 combination against issues that threaten to hinder students' development.  Each lesson connects to the day's picture book or novel, and follows the earlier literacy strategies with a fun, engaging math lesson that ties directly into the reading.  Here are the five elements that lead to effective math lessons.

1. Starting. This is the part that requires the most from the instructor. They need to explain what the students will do, review and demonstrate the needed skills, and set expectations for student work time. Rushing this phase can lead to student confusion, so it's important to provide a clear, precise set up.

2. Engaging. Now it's in the students' hands. The instructor needs to walk the line between providing no assistance (perhaps using student work time to plan for a different lesson) or providing too much assistance (perhaps doing the work for the students). The instructor should be a motivator, giving students the confidence to find the answers themselves.

3. Supporting. Sometimes direct assistance is needed to get students over hurdles. Asking students to describe the strategy being used, giving everybody a turn to speak, asking how the process is working, and identifying and encouraging what is working, are all ways staff can support their students.

4. Questioning. Questioning should promote reflection; since many of the content standards and benchmarks are question oriented, it's good to ask students to estimate answers and to check their reasonableness. For example:

a. "Why did you . . ."

b. "What would happen if . . ."

c. "What other way can . . ."

d. "How can you prove . . ."

e. "What evidence shows . . ."

5. Concluding. The instructor gives the students a chance to share their processes and thinking. This starts with students writing in their math journals, and carries over to public sharing. The instructor should also reiterate the lesson objective, and review any concepts that still seem confusing to students.