About Math Journals

 Just a quick post to share some helpful hints on how we are using our math journal in first grade this year!

Last year we embarked on math journaling.  At first I was the one kicking and screaming.  I don’t like to have to start doing something during a school year that I am not sure I can keep up with!  Plus I wanted it to be standards based, authentic, and worth while!  Did I mention this is first grade?  I was stressing!

Slowly I began scouring the standards and creating monthly math activities that would provide extended opportunities for students to show understanding.  Little did I know how much we would love our math journals.  #prizedpossesions  #mathproud 

Students literally cheered when we began building our journals.  Colored paper and interactive activities seemed to be the tipping point for classroom fun!

Things I learned along the way…

• Explicit Directions/Example Journal

At first interactive activities can be difficult for young learners to master quickly because there is cutting and/or folding involved. Because they are not all developed in the area of spatial awareness and dexterity, having a blank example journal saved me both with having to cut and create on the spot to explain as well as having to stop my small group to help explain what to do over and over as each group advances to journal.  I left the example journal out for students to look at and refer to as needed.  #problemsolved

• {Short} Specific Time Frame

In our guided math block, math journal is one of 5 rotations.  Students get ten minutes for each rotation this year.  Once students are comfortable with the format of activities, they can finish these daily within the time frame.  Some students need a longer time.  For this reason I have them stay and finish before rotating.   Most days this is enough motivation to keep students working and motivated to finish.  When needed, I will allow journal activities to carry over two days.  It depends on the skill and the activity.

Here’s one example slide of our math powerpoint that runs during guided math. 

• Prepare for Paper!

After beginning journaling I realized that all that cutting resulted in paper everywhere!  We have a tidy tub at each table for all trash scraps.  Changed.My.Life.  If you want cute tidy tub labels they came from here.  A helper empties each tidy tub into our recycle box at the end of the day!

 Below this journal activity was measurement.  Students cut out the ruler and different sized pieces.  They measured and labeled each picture for their journals.

• Colored Paper/Variety 

Splurging on a packet of colored paper makes a HUGE difference.  My students don’t always have enough time to color their journal activities, but they love the bright pops of colors as they flip through their journals.  It’s part of that pride of ownership thing we have going on with those journals.  

If you want to grab a journal freebie to see how you like it, just click the picture below.  These came from my first semester bundle so they may not be applicable to what you are studying at this moment.  It will give you an example of the formatting though!

Here’s a couple journal pages that may work for you during this time of year!

If you are feeling like this is something that might be just right for your class, you can get each month’s math journal separate or grab the semester bundles for savings. Happy Journaling!