If you're wanting to enhance your students' opportunity to reason mathematically--math journals are a fantastic approach--and a foundational tool in my mathematical teaching!

Math journals were wildly successful in my math classroom. In fact, they were so successful that I brought them into my homeschool. I have always enjoyed seeing students persevere and problem-solve as well as seeing them work to justify their answers. Writing and discussing mathematics is a powerful teaching tool. 

How to Use Math Journals:

You can use journals however you see fit. I've included 2 prompts per week. There are 74 slides for you to present to students in a whole class mode, small groups, or distance learning (pdf file). Students can use paper, a notebook, or a folder for these problems.

I've also included a printable version of the math journal if having one per student works better for you.

Students will solve the problem and explain their thinking. You can use these to have mathematical discussions in the classroom or you can ask students to journal their work and assess them.

You can have students complete this independently, allow or invite them to talk to their peers, or open these up for class discussions. I've included self-selection cards for grading and student autonomy. If you'd like, you can allow students to choose which prompt you'll grade each time you collect their journals.

How these are designed:

These kindergarten math journals are aligned to big ideas in kindergarten mathematics as outlined by Jo Boaler and the CCSS. . All CCSS domains are covered in this journal. The problems are higher-level thinking to allow you to use these with all students and any curriculum/pacing. The higher-level thinking problems (at depth of knowledge levels 2 and 3) allow students to remain challenged while working to construct valid and strong mathematical arguments. 

Benefits of Math Journals in a Classroom

• These can be used as a teaching tool for students constructing mathematical arguments
• Serve as a formative assessment tool as these prompts are designed to help you identify student misconceptions about important key mathematical concepts
• Student's engage in deeper mathematical thinking and enhance conceptual understanding
• Mathematical vocabulary is strengthened
• Intrinsically motivating as students are asked to share their thinking or opinions and most questions are open-ended in part

What You'll Get

• Prompts (74 prompts) You have 74 slides or 37 printable pages of weekly prompts (2 days per page)
• Math prompts that include open-ended, higher level thinking questions
• Aligned to CCSS from grade level below
• Higher Level Thinking Questions (Depth of Knowledge levels 2&3)
• Used for teaching and formative assessment
• Answer key (38 pages)
• Instructions, rubrics, sentence starters, and more (17)