Math Journals, or problem solving notebooks are a great way to get students writing about their mathematical thinking. They are also especially effective for giving you a glimpse into their problem solving process. I use math journals almost daily in my class and often start with this strategy to help my students more coherently explain their thinking. Teaching 4th grade in Nevada means teaching the dreaded constructed response math questions for our state test. One thing that I have been trying in my class that has been very successful is the making a MESS model for problem solving. As you can see from the anchor chart the MESS acronym stands for: M - Model E - Equation S- Solution S- Sentence The students learn to use the acronym to help them set up a written response to a math problem so that they not only know where to start, but also all of the parts to include. It is really easy to remember and they LOVE the idea of being encouraged to "Make a Mess". I started my students off with the anchor chart above, then gave them my math journals which are set up using this method, and include 4 math prompts for each standard. I print out the ones that my students need to work on most and place them in a folder for math journal time. This student started to divide the given numbers (963/10) but then raised her hand and asked if she could round first. I told her, "Try it!" The students become better and better at writing responses as we share methods and responses throughout the year. Towards the end of the year in preparation for testing, I start giving them prompts without the model to guide them. After working with the MESS model all year, they know what to do, and are better prepared. I really emphasize perseverance and trying things out before raising their hands to ask for help. I compare it to a video game. I say, "If you don't pass a level on a video game, you don't call me up and ask for help, you try something different, you persevere until you figure it out. That is exactly what mathematicians do!" I have been blown away by some of the feedback that I have received! Grade Level Math Journals Available: 1st Grade Math Journal 2nd Grade Math Journal 3rd Grade Math Journal 4th Grade Math Journal 5th Grade Math Journal 6th Grade Math Journal Here are a few links with sample constructed response questions http://tn.gov/education/assessment/ConstructedResponseAssessment.shtml http://www.sandi.net/cms/lib/CA01001235/Centricity/Domain/217/Math%20Documents/Archives%20K-5/Grade%204%20Modules%201-10%20Response%20Guides.pdf http://www.opi.mt.gov/PDF/Assessment/CRT/RI/07/07Gr3MathCR.pdf I also have a Pinterest Board where I pin Math Journal Ideas. I am linking up with Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday. Head over there for some other amazing ideas, or to share something you have tried recently! This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog. All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love. I would love to hear from you! ❤️ Have a question? Idea for a resource you might find helpful? Be so kind and leave a comment below.
I absolutely LOVE interactive journals!!! I am still working on other subject areas, but for now I use them in Math and Science. Here are some sample pages from my September Math Journal Prompts in action: I have always taught thematically, so the main themes in the September pack are Apples and Farm. However, about half of them are general prompts (like the dice, ten frame and putting numbers in order). All of these are based off standards taught early in the year for K students. If you're interested in using interactive math journals and don't know where to start.. these are perfect! Each prompt has pictures for your kiddos to work the problem out. This helps little learners to solve the problem without getting distracted from drawing out pictures, etc.. It also offers a quick assessment for the teacher. Check them out here!
KINDERGARTEN MATH - UNIT 1 I am thrilled to be sharing this huge Counting and Cardinality Unit with you! This is the math unit we start the year with in kindergarten. The kids love all of the hands-on activities we get to do, and I love how easy it is to keep them engaged.
5 years ago I took a CGI (Cognitive Guided Instruction) training and loved everything about it. I took in a lot of what I learned and it shaped the way I teach math. CGI is an elementary level mathematics professional development at WCER in the 1980's and 1990's by education professors. Last year I took another training and it revitalized my need for journals in the classroom and more CGI instruction. But finding time to fit them in every day was a challenge. I think I finally have a good routine down that allows me to include journals and problem solving skills every single day. So here we go! Journals are pretty simple. Just a composition book! I do have labels on them but this picture is old! Here is our math journal routine: We have a story problem of the day that I type up in a simple format. Students put their heads down, close their eyes, and listen to the problem. Here are some examples of the problems. (I print them like this so I can cut them and give each student a problem to glue in their journal) Next we raise our hands and decide where we should start. Once students know where to begin they can get started in their journals. They glue the problem down in their journals and start by drawing a picture. I always have blocks available on the tables so they can also use manipulatives to solve the problem too. Our expectations for math journals are simple. #1 Draw a picture to show your strategy. #2 Write a number sentence that shows how you solved the problem. #3 Write a complete sentence to answer the question in the problem. When they have done all 3 things they get a stamp or sticker from me and then they can move on to math tubs. Here are a few examples: This kiddo had a great strategy but needed help on accuracy. This was his first independent attempt. We discussed going back to double check. He saw his mistake immediately and fixed it. This was early in our journal journey. This kiddo gets it, but we needed to discuss how to show our strategy. In this case I would ask, "Where did you start?", and students can usually pin point that. He started with 13 and then counted on 6 to get to 19. We've worked on how to show that to share with others. This kiddo is super sophisticated. She showed her work with tens and ones (circles and x's) and went on to explain her thinking by naming the strategy she used in her sentence. She showed she needed to add on 12 by showing it is a 10 and 2 ones. This kiddo is using blocks to show me his thinking.... This kiddo does amazing pictures everyday to show her thinking using different color crayons. The most important part of all of this are the quick 2 minute conversations I have with them as they explain their thinking to me. Sometimes I have them explain to a neighbor and we try to share 3 or 4 journals each day in a "Writer's Workshop" style share time at the end of math. Doing journals daily has helped us have conversations about math, name our strategies, and explain our thinking. Our problem of the day always has to do with something that is going on in our lives. It's important to write your own problems so the kiddos are invested in the problem and it really makes a huge difference. I have some problems already typed up and ready to go for days I don't have time but they really enjoy being the "problem of the day" so I try to stick to that. You can see the entire set of math journal resources HERE. When students finish they move on to math tubs. Math tubs have all kinds of hands on materials in them. I use these large dish pans for my math tubs so they can fit a lot of different materials! To see MATH JOURNALS and what I put in my tubs click HERE. Want to save this for later? Pin it here!
Improve students' understanding of math concepts with kid-friendly independent math practice for K-2. Read this guide for a variety of math ideas and activities that your kids will love!
The value of math journals is highly dependent upon the kinds of prompts you select. After many failed attempts at trying to explain these types of prompts and discuss their pros and cons, I decided to put the information into a table for easier navigation. (Click HERE to view the image below as a PDF)
Using Math Journals. Student created math journals for the entire year! These interactive math notebooks are a great way for Kinder, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade to practice math skills in an interactive way. They cover number sense, addition and subtraction, graphing, shapes, money, word problems and so much more!
As a kindergarten and first grade teacher, I loved teaching math. Don't get me wrong! Literacy is my baby. However, I have a special place in my heart for math interactive notebooks! The amount of growth that my students demonstrated made me excited to move on to the next unit. Math notebooks were great tools
I am so excited to announce that I FINALLY finished another Interactive Journal set, and this time it's for your little Pre-K Mathemati...
I searched all over for something for my math journals that could keep the students (and me) a little more organized. When I couldn't find what I needed...I decided to make it. This resource is definitely a labor of love. I am using it myself this year and I love it! My students love it too! This resource covers ALL OF THE TEKS! Every single one! This resource will keep you on track throughout the year AND make you look like a math teacher rock star! These dividers are basically a curriculum map to 3rd grade math in Texas. They are each sized to fit a composition book. Use the dividers in unit order or use them in any order by using the dividers labeled with a simple '3rd grade' banner. The download includes both sets of the dividers...one set with unit numbers and the other with a generic 3rd grade banner on each. Each unit divider includes: *labeled tabs *vocabulary *list of TEKS using kid-friendly language and 'I Can' statements *visuals *tips *clean, neat format for easy copies *dotted cutting lines for students I have broken the Texas 3rd grade year into 12 units... Unit 1 - Place Value (Our Number System) Unit 2 - Addition and Subtraction (Review and Extend) Unit 3 - Multiplication (Concepts and Facts) Unit 4 - Division (Concepts and Facts) Unit 5 - Problem Solving (Multiplication and Division) Unit 6 - Fractions (Parts of a Whole) Unit 7 - Geometry (2D and 3D Shapes) Unit 8 - Area and Perimeter (Inside and All Around) Unit 9 - Measurement (Customary and Metric) Unit 10 - Graphs and Data (Reading and Understanding Data) Unit 11 - Financial Literacy (How We Use Money Everyday) Unit 12 - Review (Putting It All Together)
Have you ever thought of giving an interactive notebook a try in your primary classroom, but the thought seems too overwhelming? Do you have an interactive notebook resource, but are not sure
This engaging and educational resource is thoughtfully designed to introduce toddlers to the wonders of the fall season while promoting early learning and exploration. THIS IS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, NO PHYSICAL PRODUCT IS SHIPPED! Colors can vary due to how monitors and printers read colors differently. ✿ WHAT WILL YOU RECEIVE ✿ Once you’ve paid, you’ll receive instant access to the purchased PDF file for you to download. All pages are formatted to fit an 8.5" x 11" sized paper. ✿ WHAT'S INCLUDED ✿ - 14 Bilingual Autumn Word Cards (English & Spanish) - 2-Piece Picture Matching Cards - Foldable Apple Lifecycle - 8 Count & Clip Cards - Mushroom Counting (1-10) - Finish the Pattern - Size Sorting (Big vs Small) - Autumn Nature Scavenger Hunt
Why use math sorts? Discussions Differentiation Aligned to the standards No-prep FUN! 1. Discussions We constantly tell students to show their work or explain their thinking. Using math sorts weekly will give students practice in putting their thinking into words. Your students will use math vocabulary as they explain how they sorted their cards. They […]
Student created math journals for the entire year! These interactive math notebooks are a great way for Kinder through Fourth Grade to practice math skills in an interactive way. These math notebooks cover number sense, addition and subtraction, graphing, shapes, money, word problems, and so much more!
As teachers, we all know that assessments matter. It’s important to check student understanding and provide meaningful feedback. After an assessment every teacher faces the same challenge…now what? Do I reteach the students who haven’t mastered the concepts, or move on so others don’t get bored and I can cover everything? How do I make […]
Learning journals are one of the best and easiest ways to make learning fun at home. This post breaks down what a learning journal is and how you can start one. It covers developmentally appropriate concepts to include in learning journals for different age groups, how to manage prepping and impleme
Greetings friends! Lindsay here . . . Wowzers. Where did August go? Yes, I know its super pitiful that it is already September 5th and...
I am so excited to announce that I FINALLY finished another Interactive Journal set, and this time it's for your little Pre-K Mathemati...
I don't know about you, but differentiating instruction has been a big push at my school. I'm completely on board with this idea...I know it's so important to meet the needs of all your students where they are. However, I was having a very hard time implementing differentation into my classroom. I felt that I was already juggling so much, and I thought that differentiating meant I would be having to make two or three sets of lesson plans to be able to give my students what they needed. I know this isn't the case now, but it can be a difficult concept to put into action! This summer I thought of an EASY way to differentiate during math instruction. We're encouraged to use math journals with our students...this was another idea that I loved, but it was hard to find the resources and time to implement them. Well, I managed to solve two dilemmas with my differentiated math journal prompts! We use Go Math at our school, so I created them to go with our curriculum. Each Go Math lesson has two correlating journal prompts. The "circle" prompts are meant for struggling and on-level students; the "square" prompts are meant for those students who need that extra enrichment. Of course I never mention that to my students, and they won't even be able to figure that out -- I am always changing who gets a circle or square prompt. Some students might struggle with a lesson the day before, but knock the next one out of the park...I'm not going to limit that student to using only "circle" prompts. This way they'll be challenged to the best of their ability. My students won't catch on to the circle/square difference because at some point, all of my students have used both! :) Here's a peek at two of my students' journals from our very first math lesson! That's right...these are from the second day of school... I'm so proud!! :) To be honest, I gave all of my students the circle prompt for the first few lessons. I wanted them to get used to math journaling first. As I walked around, I loved seeing how different their thinking was. I made a big deal about that in my classroom the first time we used these. I pulled three different students' journals and put them on the document camera to show them how there isn't just one right answer to the journal prompts! It was fun to see the look on their faces when they heard that one! ;) I also wanted an easy way to manage these journal prompts, and I definitely found it! I bought two sets of these mini drawers from Big Lots and whipped up some quick labels. I prep them on Friday for the next week, and I'm DONE!! Now, after I've walked around and checked my students' work, I just tell them to go get a circle or square prompt for that day. They do the rest! I am loving it!! If you use Go Math and are interested in giving these a shot in your own classroom, you can check them out here! I currently have Ch. 1-4 up in my TPT store, and the rest are on their way. For the next 48 hours, you can grab them for 20% off!!! :) For those who don't use Go Math, I'm hoping to take these same prompts and organize them by Common Core standard. I'm not quite sure when that will be, but hopefully sometime in the near future! :) Thanks for stopping by!
Here is a fun way to motivate students in a math journal or math workbook! As you teach a new concept or unit of study, introduce the reference tools...
Math doodle wheels for 6th grade math instruction! Your 6th graders can explore math easily, collaborate, and be creative to learn the skill!
Are you looking for super fun measurement worksheets and activities for kindergarten?? You found them!! Your students will LOVE these hands-on learning activities and fun, extra practice worksheets that teach a variety of kindergarten measurement concepts.
Okay before we start digging into these Get to Know You activities I want to share a little bit of the “why”. When I first started teaching 5th grade math a few years ago I noticed right away that my students were coming to me with some math baggage, if you will. Both good and… Continue reading Getting to Know Your Students as Math Learners
These kindergarten anchor charts will give you the tools you need to teach math, reading, friendship skills, and much more!
I have been using interactive math notebooks in my classroom for as long as I can remember. Math notebooks are a great place for students to take notes, record definitions and sample problems, and practice new skills. They are perfect to use for direct instruction and guided practice, in small groups or as a whole class.…
I am SO excited about my Preschool Math Journal! This is something I have wanted to create for awhile now for Hayden. Each month (August - May), will include 20 short and simple math prompts to review and assess math skills to help prepare for kindergarten. The Preschool Math Journal is from my TPT shop! You can buy each month individually, or the bundle of August-May Journals! For a free sample, be sure to scroll to the end of the post! Buy the Preschool Math Journal Here are some sample prompts that Hayden has been working on, from the August Math Journal. He worked on identifying and tracing number 12. counting quantities and comparing numbers, addition, and patterning. I LOVE these prompts because he can QUICKLY complete these, and I can see if these are skills he is secure with, or something we need to practice further. Hayden is 4, and some of these prompts are super simple for him, like identifying pictures that are different and comparing sizes. However, it is still important to review these skills! A few of the other prompts we have done so far are below. Identifying numbers, ordering by size, tracing and drawing shapes. I hope these math journals can be helpful to your little ones! Again, they can be found in my TPT shop! Preschool Math Journal Here is a FREE SAMPLE of 12 preschool math journal prompts! I hope you and your little ones enjoy! Preschool Math Journal Free Sample
We loved learning about the zoo! I used Julie Lee and Deanna Jump's zoo unit. I think the zoo animal faces created by Julie are so adorable...
Lesson plans, activities and ideas for kindergarten classrooms, including math problem-solving, reading workshop, writer's workshop, inquiry-based science journals, literacy centers and more!
Here you can find a summary of the main formulas you need to know. This list was not organized by years of schooling but thematically. This is not an
I absolutely LOVE interactive journals!!! I am still working on other subject areas, but for now I use them in Math and Science. Here are some sample pages from my September Math Journal Prompts in action: I have always taught thematically, so the main themes in the September pack are Apples and Farm. However, about half of them are general prompts (like the dice, ten frame and putting numbers in order). All of these are based off standards taught early in the year for K students. If you're interested in using interactive math journals and don't know where to start.. these are perfect! Each prompt has pictures for your kiddos to work the problem out. This helps little learners to solve the problem without getting distracted from drawing out pictures, etc.. It also offers a quick assessment for the teacher. Check them out here!
Improve students' understanding of math concepts with kid-friendly independent math practice for K-2. Read this guide for a variety of math ideas and activities that your kids will love!
Okay before we start digging into these Get to Know You activities I want to share a little bit of the “why”. When I first started teaching 5th grade math a few years ago I noticed right away that my students were coming to me with some math baggage, if you will. Both good and… Continue reading Getting to Know Your Students as Math Learners
Need math journals for the entire year? These math journals are packed with problem solving and scaffolds for the year! The rigor increases as the math journal progress through the school year.
Tracing Lines - Worksheets For Little People As your little one learns how to write, tracing lines is a great activity! And there are benefits to it too! Line tracing is one of those activities that develop your child's control of the small muscles in his/ her hands (fine motor skills). Tracing will teach your child to make the precise movements that are necessary for forming letters. Tracing improves hand/eye coordination. Line Tracing By Age Line tracing is predominantly for little ones as they learn how to write. It's therefore perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners. Your child's age and
There's a good chance you have a pack of UNO cards at home or in your classroom. Here are 5 math games you can play with them.
