Math Journals

Presented by: Kortney GriffinAugust 20, 2015

Powhatan Elementary School

The purpose of today’s workshop…

Today we will• Identify what a math journal is, its

purpose, and how it improves math achievement.• Identify various components of math journal entries.• Share resources to start begin our math journals

What is a math journal?

Misconception: A math journal is a place

where students solely respond to math prompts.

What is a math journal?• A composition or spiral notebook that compiles

information from daily objectives that can be used as a reference when working independently.

• A math journal entry is a teacher created document that can include examples, models, and vocabulary pertinent to understanding a particular math skill.

• Foundational skills• Outlines math processes

What is a math journal?…continued…

MISCONCEPTION CLARIFICATION:• Can include prompts that students respond to.

• Used as a form of self-assessment of what they have learned in a problem solving process

• Use the BCPS pre-assessment “I Can” to guide the creation of your pre-assessment.

Why use a math journal?• Teaches students note taking skills• Promotes student independence

• Reference to use during independent work time, homework, and exit ticket.

• Support home-school connection• Shows parents the process taught in class

• Less likely for parents to re-teach a skill the “old school” way

• Year-long reference (especially for objectives that require more than one day).

• Throughout the course of the school year• From school year- to – school year

How to produce a math journal entryConsider the following…

Math Unit

Essential Questions

Lesson Objectives

Lesson ComponentsEngagement/

Exploration mini lesson question

VocabularyStep-by-step

processesTaught strategies

Resources from the math office

Examples of how math journals can vary.

- Day –to- day-Class –to- class

-Grade level to grade level

Students were expected to Identify 2-digit and 3-digit numbers

as ODD and EVEN numbers

VOCABULARY

Explanation of how to meet the objective

Students were expected to Represent 3-digit numbers in

expanded, word form, and standard form

Definitions

Examples

Reference

Student NoteTaking

During the mini-lesson portion, students took

notes on how to represent the models by drawing

Students were expected to create equivalent expressions by using

models to regroup from one place value to

another.Step-by-step model of how to perform the

task

Students were expected to complete a series of numbers by identifying

the pattern.Exploration

question

Model of metacognition

Justification- great way to aid them in explaining their thinking

Provide examples of possible future answers

The very question used to introduce the

objective

Math Journals should be:•Organized by units• Consistent among individual students in your class•Make sense

Front of the math journal

Labeled with

-student’s name

-grade level

-teacher name

Math JournalJoe Smith

2nd grade Mr. B’s class

Inside of front cover

Standards for

Mathematical Practices

“Kid Version”

Math Journal Rules

Math Workshop rules and schedule

Inside of back cover

How do we format our math journals• It is up to the discretion of the teacher to format the

math journal to fit the needs of our students. Some ideas can include:

• Table of contents• Standards for Mathematical Practices • Number pages• Math tools such as hundreds charts and

number lines.• Essential QuestionsThe content, however, should be consistent among within grade

levels. Long range planning and creating the journals based upon the

objectives that students are expected to meet.

It lends itself to the foundational skills and mathematical processes that students need to problem solve using higher level

skills.

Experiences…• 3rd graders are expected to take their math journals home

nightly,• Parents have been referred to the math journal as they try

and understand the nightly math homework and the processes we have used to instruct their child.

• We have referred parents to particular journal pages.• It serves as a reference much like a math textbook.• Students are allowed and expected to use it throughout the

course of the lesson when working independently.• During math discussions, when students are expected to

recall previously taught skills, classmates can call out of page numbers for their peers to reference to help drive the discussion.