homework menu examples

Takeaway Homework Menus: The Basics

Takeaway Homework Menus are based on an original idea by “Twitter phenomenon and outstanding teacher” Ross Morrison McGill ( 100 Ideas for Secondary Teachers ) – webmaster of the inspirational Teacher Toolkit site – and if you’re not familiar with the idea, the basic premise is a simple one:

Instead of giving all your students a single “Homework Task” (an essay, a set of questions or whatever is appropriate to the course you’re teaching) you give them a menu of possible choices from which they can choose the homework they want to do.

This could be as simple as a choice of doing one from a selection of 5 or 6 different essays or, as in the majority of Takeaway Homework Menus, students are required to select from different types of task. This usually involves the Menu being:

1. Organised into sections , such as Starters, Mains and Desserts to maintain the Menu theme. Students may, for example, be required to do homework tasks selected from each part of the menu in the following ways (examples taken from this Express Crime and Deviance Takeaway homework menu , created by Miss Coleman to “Deliver fresh, hot and delicious homework tasks straight to your doorstep!”).

• Starters may involve small and simple tasks ( Write a tweet or no more than 256 characters explaining a Sociological key term covered in the Crime and Deviance unit).
• Mains are usually more-involved and take longer to complete ( Create a ten-question quiz for your classmates based on one area of the Crime and Deviance unit).
• Desserts are again relatively straightforward tasks but can be used to test different skills to those included in Starters ( Choose one piece of marked work in your book and re-do it, ensuring that you are responding to feedback and making improvements where necessary).

What to include in each section is, of course, something for you to decide – Starters could include simple small-mark questions, while Mains could be a selection of essays – and the format’s flexible enough to incorporate a wide mix of practical and theoretical activities. If you want a further (sociological) example, the eponymous Miss Coleman has created a similar Takeaway Homework menu for social inequality .

2. Differentiated in terms of difficulty : The example Crime and Deviance Template uses a “Periometer Chilli Scale” as a way of indicating the level of difficulty: 1 Chilli equals “mild difficulty” while 3 equals a high difficulty. Students simply chose the Homework that they (and you) think best suits their particular needs at any given point in the course.

As you’ll discover if you explore this general idea further there are many different ways to put your Takeaway Menu together, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. There are also different types of template you can use, but for the moment, the easiest way to get to grips with the Takeaway technique is probably to have a look at some of the ways other teachers have used and shaped it and then devise your own Menu that meets the needs of both the Specification you’re following and the different students in your class.

This Takeaway Menu , for example, is based around “Nandos” and uses the same Periometer idea as above to create a simple structure of ascending difficulty (from “Extra Mild” to “Extra Hot”). Unless you teach some sort of Performing Arts class you can ignore the content – I’ve just left it in to show the range of differentiated tasks – and instead use the blank Takeaway Menu to add your own questions / tasks using the Text function of the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Alternatively there’s a similar Word-based Takeaway Homework menu Template you can download. Just add your own tailored content for an Instant Takeaway Menu. If you’d prefer something ready-made ( pre-cooked? ), have a look at the Nando’s Families and Households Takeaway Homework menu or the Pizza Express Mass Media Takeaway Revision Menu . Both were created by Lucy Cocker and are a good source of ideas, examples and inspiration. Both are Word documents which makes them relatively easy to edit if you want to create your own Takeaway Homework menus based on either template.

And if you want a little more context about Takeaway Homework, have a look at these basic instructions (with a few examples you can adapt) .

Alternatively try these more-detailed instructions and a short explanation of one way to put your own Menu together .

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Classroom Freebies

May 13, 2020 · 2 Comments

Spelling Menus For All Year

3-5 · All Freebies · PK-2

Hey teacher friends! Hope everyone is fantastic today!

I was doing some updating yesterday and wanted to freshen up a super popular freebie: my Differentiated Spelling Homework Menu!

I used this menu in third grade (though it could be adapted easily by other grade levels as well), and the students, parents, and administrators loved it! I did too, because I was able to only grade spelling homework once a week, rather than a daily assignment each day.

By assigning the homework on Monday for the rest of the week, it allows families who might have sports or family emergencies to work on the homework throughout the week when it is most convenient for them. A great many parents have verbally shared with me how they loved this option.

Students like it better because they have a choice. They all have to complete the same amount of points {or that can be differentiated as well if needed}, but each child can choose how many assignments he or she needs to complete in order to get to the required level of points each week. And they are able to change it up and choose different activities whenever they like.

I loved it because I was able to grade once a week and also to see the creativity and choices come alive in the work students were turning in. I also didn’t have to run nightly homework copies – or tear out pages in a workbook! Students supplied their work on paper from home. Of course, you will always have a couple who “halfway” do the work – or forget and don’t turn it in at all. That happens though with nightly homework, so the same consequences should result.

I love menus for differentiating and allowing student choice with guidelines in place. The freebie menu packet below comes with a basic plain template with no graphics, along with 12 other monthly “themed” pages, in case you want to change things up a bit to liven it up.

Hopefully your students will love the choice factor as much as mine did! Feel free to pass along the link for this page to other colleagues in your school who also might like a change from the usual spelling routine.

Thanks so much and happy homework-ing!

This post originally appeared at Organized Classroom .

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About Charity Preston

A teacher, mom, wife. Featured in Scholastic Instructor Magazine, NEA, TeachHub, and Edutopia, Charity has over a half million fans and followers all over the world. A former K-6 gifted intervention specialist, she has built and managed over 20 educational related websites since 2011, and collaborated with high profile companies, such as eBay, ASCD, and Pinterest. Charity is the CEO of PEN Group Online, Inc. where she has taught her classroom and teacherpreneur business development systems to thousands of fans and members.

Megan Amberg says

May 21, 2020 at 12:06 pm

I really am interested in the differntiated spelling activities for a year, but can not get any further than the pg where I leave my email etc to be able to get the resource. I have put a personal email. It just spins…..I have tried over a few days. Any suggestions?

Charity Preston says

May 27, 2020 at 4:32 pm

Hi Megan! I’m guessing your email or server is blocking the pop up. After you enter in your info, the freebie will be delivered via email to your inbox (sometimes it ends up in spam).

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• Editable Takeaway Homework Menu

Homework menu – Editable takeaway-style PowerPoint

PowerPoint menu template file

This homework menu sheet takes the format of an editable, printable PowerPoint template. It’s designed to engage students and make homework an enjoyable and varied experience.

Engaging format

The takeaway menu format is visually appealing and familiar to students, making homework less intimidating and more enticing.

Customisable homework menu

This homework menu PowerPoint template is highly customisable, allowing you to tailor the tasks to suit the needs and abilities of your students.

Whether you are focusing on literacy, numeracy or any other subject, you can easily modify the template to fit your curriculum and the specific learning objectives of your class.

Differentiated learning

Our homework menu sheet promotes differentiated learning by offering tasks of varying difficulty levels. The ‘Light Bites’ section includes three easier options for students who may need a gentler introduction to the material.

The ‘Specials’ section features a more complicated option for those ready to be challenged.

‘Mains’ provides three more time-intensive tasks, while ‘Sides’ and ‘Extras’ offer fun, lighter activities to balance out the workload.

Encourages choice and autonomy

Students need to choose at least one of the top two tasks and an extra from the bottom three. This choice empowers students to take control of their learning, making them more invested in their work and more likely to complete it with care and interest.

Variety of learning experiences

The template includes ‘Desserts’ and ‘Sides’, which are fun ways to learn through play and lighter tasks, ensuring that homework isn’t just about hard work but also about discovering the joy in learning.

These sections help to keep the tasks varied and enjoyable, preventing homework from becoming monotonous.

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Using Math Menus in Your Classroom

• March 20, 2022

By now you probably know all about math menus. If not, head over to this post, The Basics of Math Menus , and then come back when you are ready to learn more! If you are ready to dive in with using math menus in your classroom, then keep reading! This post will take you through some of the most frequently asked questions about using math menus in your classroom.

How many students do you have in your class? How many groups do you have?

My classes currently range from 18 students to 26 students. I have 6 groups per class, and each group ranges from 3 to 5 students.

How often do you see each kid in a small group?

Every day, Monday – Thursday.

How do you monitor their work? Do you have students turn everything in?

They turn all of their Must Do activities in. If it is digital, they just turn it in on Google Classroom. If it is paper, we have bins that they use to turn in their work. I use my prep time to check their work. No work is brought home with me. I am very purposeful about the activities I choose for Must Do activities. I make sure some of them are self-checking, like picture reveals or riddles. Then some are simple to check, like a cut and paste sorting activity. Then some are more in depth, like my Dear Ms. Matherson error analysis activity. The type of activity determines the type of feedback I leave. For Dear Ms. Matherson, they are doing a lot of work, including a writing portion, so that takes more time for me check. For the May Do activities, most of these I do not check. We talk a lot about how this is their own learning. They need to take ownership of it. There are always a few kids that I need to talk to, but overwhelmingly, after setting expectations the first two weeks, and coming back to it when we need to, it works.

Do you grade everything?

No. Their menu work we look at as practice. This is the time to make mistakes, learn from them, learn new ideas from their group, get feedback, and more! On Fridays we have a quiz, and I grade that. That is the one time a week they are required to work independently. I also grade things when they are on the rug with me sometimes.

How do you manage to see every group every day? How long are your classes?

My classes are 55 minutes. When it is time for lesson with Ms. Matherson, groups come to the rug to meet with me. My small groups look like one of the following: 3 table groups at a time (for about 20 minutes) or 2 table groups at a time (for about 12 minutes). This still leaves time at the beginning for us to a number talk, estimation clipboard, identity journal, or something else together. I decide if I want 2 or 3 groups at a time depending on the objective. If I want students to have more practice time, and less hands on, I pull 3 groups. If I want less time but more hands on, I pull 2 groups.

How are students held accountable for the May Do work?

Some things they turn in, some things they don’t. Some things they have a chance to get feedback from peers on. It varies a lot depending on the May Do activity. But overall, setting clear expectations in the beginning of the year and revisiting it often is key. My students are in 5th and 6th grade. We talk a lot about how if they want to be given some freedom, they need to show they can handle it. But the overall classroom culture is key. It helps keep the May Do options available.

How do you pick May Do options?

There are a lot that I keep every week. Then some I switch out. Some are kid suggestions. Math games are games I buy/have. Play is super important in math! Some are challenges I find online. Estimation Station is one that we do every week. Kids love it, and I am strategic about the clues based on skills I want them to practice. I want a variety. I want every kid to be able to find them accessible and find something that interests them. If you are looking for some of my May Do activities that are ready to go, checkout my Ultimate Math Menu Bundle !

Can students do Must Do activities in any order?

Yes! This helps bring more choice into the menus. It may seem like a small level of choice, but any choice students can have makes a big impact!

Do students have assigned parters for May Do activities?

No. They have to complete the Must Do activities with their group. For May Do activities, they can do them alone or with other kids from their group or other groups, as long as the kids they are working with have also completed all of their Must Do activities.

How can you get through a lesson if students are only with you for 20 minutes?

It depends on the lesson objective. Sometimes I take two days for an objective, sometimes I take one. It all depends. But regardless, the beauty of math menus is that they have so many different activities within a week on so many different objectives, that things are constantly spiraled and they are always getting more practice.

Do you do anything whole group?

Yes! We always start class together as a whole group. On Mondays we go over the menu for the week. If there is a new menu item we might practice it together. On Tuesday we do Estimation Clipboard. Wednesday we do our identity journal. Thursday we rotate a few activities, like Which One Doesn’t Belong, Esti-Mystery, Notice and Wonder, Number Talk, and more. Friday we pass back work and play Blooket. I also sometimes introduce the lesson whole group by giving them something to think about, watching a video, or something else. You can download some ideas for how to start class here .

Using math menus in your classroom will have a huge impact. Students are engaged, take ownership of their learning, get to learn from each other, and are constantly working on new skills. If you are looking for templates and activities to help you get started, check out my Ultimate Math Menu Bundle . It contains so many  things you need to get started! Want even more support? Sign up for Math Menus: The Course to get all of the activities you need along with 15 videos of how to implement it in your classroom.

17 thoughts on “ Using Math Menus in Your Classroom ”

I was reading your post and it mentions a classroom tour, where can I find your classroom tour? I’m very interested in trying this after testing to prepare to start next year with math menus.

The classroom tour is on my Instagram, saved as a highlight!

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How many students in each group and how many groups do you have? Are you groups ability grouped or mixed ability?

Last year I had 6 tables. Each table had 3-5 kids, depending on the size of the class. When I would call them to the rug for our lesson, I would call 2-3 tables to create a small group. My groups were always mixed ability levels.

Where do we find information about the identity journal?

I got it on TPT. I think it is from thehappyclassroom

Hello Julia, I need ideas for the estimation station. Please help ! Thanks

Here are some things I use frequently: mini erasers, paper clips, cheerios, marbles, thumb tacks, and cotton balls.Then I have about 3 containers that I rotate through.

• Pingback: 4 Strategies for Adding and Subtracting Decimals - Math with Ms. Matherson

Hello! I really love the idea of math menus, and I plan on incorporating them this year in my math class. I’m wondering how you go about giving students the work needed for the menu? Do you give them all of the work that goes with the menu at one time on Monday? Or do you give them the work daily? Also, do they keep their menus in their folder/binder along with the work they need for the week?

Great question! They get their menus on Monday. They get the work daily, and extra worksheets go into a stack of drawers. Each drawer is labeled my day and subject, so “Monday Math” and “Monday ELA.” There is also a drawer for extra menus. This is great because if someone was absent then they don’t need to ask me for the worksheet, they just go to the drawers and take what they need. The students keep their menus in a math folder. I ask them to turn them in on Fridays so I can make sure they are keeping up with checking things off, and also so they don’t have a ton of menus in their folder.

Hello. I was wondering how you fit in quizzes and tests. They are mandated for us so I was curious on how/if you incorporated them.

Hi! Yes, they happen in our curriculum. I either replace the lesson with that and then they do menus after, or we do them in place of Menus. It depends!

I have 2 questions – now that I have finally gone through the course that I bought last summer!

1. Do you think I could start implementing this as we start the second semester? I NEED to get my kids more independent.

2. How do you adjust the routine for days when you have a sub?

Hi! I think that this can be started any time of year, you just need to take the time to get the routines in place. Subs LOVE menus. They run themselves! If I know I will be absent, I just put extra Must Do activities. If it is a last minute absence, I give something to do before menu time.

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Hi, I'm Juliana!

I help upper elementary and middle school math teachers  create an engaging classroom so that their students become problem solvers!

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Reading Response Menus: A Recipe for Reading Success!

December 15, 2013

To say that my life has been a whirlwind over the past two weeks would be a pretty big understatement, but here I am.  My sweet pup is back in surgery again, and we’re pretty much breathing into paper bags over here. Vet bills (especially pet emergency bills) are seriously panic inducing!  It should be a crime to charge that much!  Am I right?!  On top of that, I landed in the ER over the past week myself, my dad’s had some health complications, and my hubby was in a minor car wreck.  Thankfully, we’re all doing okay!  I guess it’s just one of those seasons in my life.  I’ve been through many of them already in my 29 years, and I am sure I will go through many more.  😉  I am just trying not to fuss… and I’m trusting that God will take over.  He always does, and He always provides.  I’ve had my fair share of life traumas, and I’ve always come out of the other end stronger than before, and changed for the better.  Do you know what though, I am so blessed with great friends, a supportive family, and an extended support system of bloggers and blog followers, so who could really ask for anything more?!  Except maybe more time to blog.  I’ve been really iffy lately.  Ha!  I have a lot of catching up to do, and several things to (hopefully) work into some blog posts once things slow down over our holiday break.  I’ll just go ahead and cross my fingers now!

Needless to say, I’ve been a little preoccupied, and it’s taken me FOREVER to finish my reading response menu packet.  The good news is, I had plenty of time for field testing!  We’ve been doing them for almost two nine-weeks, and the kids are crazy about them!  I am even MORE crazy about how well it’s going! So, here’s the deal!

The Reader Response Menu: A Recipe for Reading Success packet is seriously one of my favorite resources ever.  The 64 page packet (jam-packed with 41 different reading response menus and different templates for student responses) was created to address a variety of standards, higher-order thinking skills, and genres in an easily adaptable and predictable structure! What’s more, with this set, you can assign a different menu every week for the entire school-year without running out or repeating the same menu twice! These reading response menus can be used as homework (like I do with my class), as morning work, as part of your independent reading centers, as part of your literature circle approach, or they can be integrated into your interactive journals by cutting and gluing them into your notebooks! They can be used with your main selections, literature circles, small groups, or independent reading. No matter what, they are a great tool for differentiation and providing students with GUIDED CHOICE as they interact with texts.  It’s been working like a charm! 🙂  Since I LOVE it so much, and it wasn’t finished in time for the site-wide sale, I’m putting it on sale for 20% off through tomorrow (Monday, December 16, 2013).  I hope you will find them as useful as I do!

 This is the template I use most often.  I run homework packets with the Reader Response Menu on the top, with one lined page per response, and two copies of page 6, front to back!  I assign it on Monday, and it comes back to me on Friday.  The kids pick four out of the six activities to complete.

 If you want to try your hand at incorporating this into an existing interactive notebook, you can use the templates I’ve included in the file.  For this first template, I would cut down the middle so I had five independent flaps to work with and arrange on the page.  The five flap flipbook is just another option.  It has less writing space, but it’s nice and compact!  If you wanted to play around with sizing on a printer, you could resize ANY of the pages in this file to customize it & make it work for you!

 This is the only template for response number 6.  All 41 menus have a box for vocabulary instruction because that is an area that I am always trying to grow.  I want them to constantly be thinking about the words they are encountering in their texts, and this transfers between fictional and informational texts with ease.  It’s definitely made a HUGE impact on the vocabularies of my own students this year! 

Now that you’ve had a chance to check out the basic premise of the pack and what some of the templates look like,  here’s how everything looks in action!  I managed to take a few snapshots a few weeks ago!  🙂

Again, what do I love so much about this?!  I love that I don’t have to spend time racking my brain week after week about what my students will do for homework.  I love that every response is meaningful.  I love that I can assign independent reading for homework without requiring them to fill out a reading log.  I love that this extends the thinking they have already done while they read for twenty minutes at home.  I love that they can choose their own books at their own levels, and it will work for all of my kiddos.  I love that I could assign different menus to different kids if I wanted to.  I love that it give students a choice in how they are going to demonstrate their understanding of the text.  I love that it works with picture books and chapter books.  I love that the process is predictable, so it becomes familiar to my students, and only the skills change.  I also love that, should I ever decide to go a different direction with homework, this resource isn’t a wash.  I could use it for morning work, and a whole year of MEANINGFUL morning work would be readily available.  If I didn’t want to do that, I love that I could use them in Read to Self or small groups.  I just LOVE the flexibility I have with this product, and most of all, I love how it has simplified my approach to homework while simultaneously stretching my students and improving their written responses.  For someone who believes in trying to work smarter, not necessarily harder, this is a breath of fresh air.  Happy Sunday, friends!

December 15, 2013 at 11:48 pm

Your Readers Response Menu is very cool. I need more stuff to help the students be more independent and hit the higher order thinking. Very cool!

-Jeremy @ Mr. Michelbook's Classroom

December 16, 2013 at 12:31 am

Thanks, Jeremy! This was definitely a labor of love, but I'm glad I put in the time. It definitely has helped my students think more critically and work more independently. Thanks for the compliment!

December 16, 2013 at 12:13 am

WOW!!! This looks absolutely amazing and would work perfectly as a reading response job the way I currently have my reading block organized! Heading to wishlist this right now!! PS. . . I'm saying a prayer for your pup, you, and your family, hoping that smooth sailing is on its way to you for the rest of the season! <3

THANK YOU for sharing your menus!! They look AMAZING! And SUCH a time saver!!

Ashley The Balancing Act I Call Life

December 16, 2013 at 12:32 am

Aww, thanks. 🙂 I really hope other teachers can use it and will find it as useful as I do! 🙂 It has been a really wonderful addition to my lessons this year, and I am sure it will be for years to come! Thanks for your well-wishes too! I appreciate the positive vibes!!!

December 16, 2013 at 12:23 am

I love your students' thoughtful responses. You're such an amazing teacher…I hope they realize how blessed they are to have you! Prayers for your family, your puppy, etc. and that life will be fabulous in the coming year!! Ashley Just Reed!

December 16, 2013 at 12:33 am

Ashley, you are always so, so sweet. Thank you so much. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

December 16, 2013 at 1:38 am

Wow your new pack looks amazing!

Looks like you have been handed a lot lately! What a lot of stress! I love your positive outlook on it all. I've been wondering how your dog is doing (and praying for you). I hope you have a very restful, peaceful holiday…and I hope your pup gets to spend it with you at home. :o)

December 16, 2013 at 4:03 am

Amanda, I have been sending positive thoughts your way! You have had a lot to deal with lately. But you are right, we are never handed more than we can handle, and it does make us stronger in the end. Hang in there! I love your latest creation and am off to buy it now! I hope you have a peaceful Christmas break and get a chance to breathe and relax.

December 18, 2013 at 1:17 am

This looks like a great tool, even for some of my higher-level 2nd graders. Best wishes to you and your family (and your pup!) for the holidays!

December 27, 2013 at 6:04 pm

Hi Amanda: I hope that, by this point, the pieces in your life are falling back into place. You sure had a lot going on… all at one time! I just dropped this pack into my cart. I think it will be the perfect way to "ramp things up" when we start back in January. Sending you lots of warm wishes and holiday blessings…

Kim Finding JOY in 6th Grade

December 31, 2013 at 7:53 pm

I just stop by to let you know I love your page and I had a good time reading it. I’m glad that my friend emailed me the link to this blog. I just bookmarked this blog and I hope your next one is going to be about the same topic again I’m looking for ward to it. One thing I want to add is I like your writting style.

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Math Professional Development Information

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Math menus or math choice boards are a popular way to track student processes during math workstations.  One of the two main management systems for running math workstations, or guided math, utilizes math menus.  In this post, we will explore this self-pacing management system.

During the portion of guided math where the teacher conducts teacher-led small groups, the rest of the students engage in math activities.  This time of the math workshop typically has students up around the room engaging in different math tasks.  Math menus provide structure and accountability during this time.  Because math menus are simple to implement and easy to differentiate, they have been a long-favored approach to managing this time of the math block.

Self-Pacing Mathematicians

The purpose of a math menu can be accountability for students.  Because we as teachers are focused on seeing students in small groups for individualized instruction during this time, we can’t always track where everyone goes and how long they work there.  The math menu provides a simple way for students to mark their progress.  I have always chosen to have students use a math folder for placing all work, recording sheets, and math menus as they work through this time of our day.  This is something I check weekly.

Differentiation

It’s easy to differentiate your math menus by color-coding folders and menus and/or providing more or fewer choice buckets per group.  For example, students who pace more slowly or need a certain set of skills may need to visit three out of the six stations you have for the week.  On the opposite hand, some students may need added activities on their menus.

Rotation Menus

I used math menus for years with success.  I led other teachers through the implementation of this management system in their classrooms.  Then one year, I had a particularly difficult class who struggled to self-pace or manage their workstation time.  Not willing to give up my cherished small group instruction, I implemented an even more structured version of the math menu approach.  This rotation system became our new way of managing math workstations.  Students could still track their rounds or progress, but they tracked it based on a schedule I created for each group.  This allowed me to direct them and to map where each person should be working.

This added structure was exactly what my students needed to thrive.  Plus, I found that I was much more aware of my timing and schedule.  It was a helpful tool for providing a more effective system for all of us.

Pre-filled and Editable Math Menus for You

You can find 36 different pre-filled and editable math menus to use with your class and math workshop.  Click any of the pictures in this post or HERE to find those menus.  The download also comes with the labels for your bins, drawers, or tubs–something for whatever system you enjoy for storing your math workstation activities.

Math Choice Boards

One tricky part of running math workstations is students who pace much faster than others consistently.  These are the students who have high-quality work, but just tend to be fast finishers.  Every year there are always a few students who have this quality.  For those situations, I have math choice boards which we call Math-Tac-Toe .  Students can work in a way that makes a tic-tac-toe pattern or complete the entire math board for expert status.  This provides terrific effective work for these students who need more.

These 27 Math-Tac-Toe boards are differentiated for K-2 and make terrific work for a workstation, fast finishers, or even math homework.  There are 9 different math topics and 3 boards per topic.

Fast Finishers Freebie for You

As a thank you for reading our posts and joining us in your teaching journey, we have a fast finishers freebie for you!

Guided Math Rotation Timers

To provide even further management of the workstation time, I have created guided math timers .  Read THIS POST , to see how these work during this time as well!

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