Try This: Introduce Windowpanes With Guided Modeling First

Try this one thing this week: introduce Windowpanes as a new addition to your Math Menu, walking students through it yourself the first time so they learn the routine before working independently.

Windowpanes are designed as spaced practice students will eventually do independently from you (they can still work together), but like any new Math Menu routine, that independence has to be built intentionally. The first time through, plan to walk the whole class through how the eight boxes work together, modeling how you'd choose a box and clarifying what "done" looks like before students head off to try it themselves.

Your first step: Head to the Windowpane Resource Folder and open Windowpane #01 for your grade level. If that looks too challenging for your class, drop back and open Windowpane #01 or #16 from the previous grade level instead. Choose just one to roll out to the entire class. Narrate how you'd choose a box, model asking "why" of your own thinking, and clarify expectations for what independent work looks like. Watch which boxes students gravitate toward first; it tells you a lot about their confidence and preferences going in.

Want to go deeper? Copy this into AI Math Coach:

Real example from a 5th grade teacher:

AI Math Coach suggested she try Grade 4 Windowpane #16 instead: a slightly earlier entry point that would let students build the independence and confidence needed before tackling Grade 5 material on their own.

Why drop back a full grade level instead of just trying a different Grade 5 Windowpane?

When most students in a class are stuck across multiple boxes right out of the gate, not just one type of problem, that's usually a sign the whole set is above their independent working level, not that one skill needs review. Moving to a different Grade 5 Windowpane would likely hit the same wall. Dropping back to Grade 4 material lets students build the confidence and habits of independent work (choosing a box, persevering, checking their own thinking) on content they can access, and that independence transfers forward once they return to grade-level Windowpanes.

Time investment: 90 seconds to reflect and get a recommendation.

Ready to try it?