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Writing About Math

February 10, 2013 By Ashleigh 3 Comments

Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!

When I was in elementary school reading was reading, writing was writing, and math was math.  Each subject area was very defined and limited to only one thing.  Now it seems like one subject blurs into another.  We have students writing about what they’re reading and reading about what they are writing.   Math is a little more tricky.  I regularly have my students write word problems, and I add written responses to many of my math tasks, but I’ve always felt like I could improve in this area. For about a year I tried different things and techniques, and I read everything I could about writing about math. Once I found a system that worked,  I compiled everything into:  Math Journal Prompts for the Third Grade Common Core Standards.

Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!

This is very different from anything I’ve ever made or used before, but I’m really excited to share with you some of the ideas from the journals.  I know that when I first thought about math journals, I was very skeptical, because I always saw them as a lot of extra work without a significant benefit.  However after spending a considerable amount of time researching writing about math, I learned that there are huge benefits to students regularly writing about math. I do want to point out that these journal prompts are not math word problems or multi step constructed response problems. I still teach those regularly, but this is a different approach to writing about math.

There are 100 math journal prompts that are specifically aligned to the third grade math. There is a list of all the journal prompts that are organized by standard, and there are at least three prompts for every standard.  These can be used in any type of notebook: binders, spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, etc.  If you use a notebook,  students should write the title of the entry on the top of their page.

Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!

I originally used the math journals in a spiral notebook. I had students write the prompt at the top of the page. In the prompt below students had to answer the question, “What does multiplication mean to me?” While it may not be the most accurate answer, I loved reading it!

Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!

I also have labels to help save a little time. You can simply print the prompts on Avery labels and have students attach the prompt label to their journal.

Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!

There is also a full page printable for each math prompt. I’ve included two versions: one with the standard included and one without the standard. You can print these out and have students use one at a time or place them inside a 3-ring notebook. These could be used as homework, morning work, centers, or a regular part of your classroom routine.

Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!One year, I sent the prompts to Best Value Copy where I had them printed and bound, so that my students can have books that are ready to go.

Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!
 This is one of those purchases that is absolutely not a necessity, but I really wanted to try it out. I think the bound journals might make students feel a little more grown-up. Plus, this will be a nice show of learning for students to take home at the end of the year.
Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!
I kind of wish I had the cover page printed in color, but it was too pricey for me.  I did have one printed in color and it certainly looked nice. If I bound the journals myself, which I just learned how to do, I could print the covers in color for a nice cover page.
Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!
I had the prompts printed on front and back of the paper, so the journals aren’t too thick, and they were able to stay assembled all year.
Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!
Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!
When I created my journal prompts, I tried to think of questions where there was no right or wrong answer or what they think I want them to write.  I want to give my students an opportunity to share their thoughts without worrying about writing the correct answer.  I think that frees them up to be a little more creative and honest in their responses.  One prompt from earlier in the year was “Which Doesn’t Belong:  Product, Multiply, Separate  or Group?”  My students had to circle which word didn’t belong with the other three words and explain why is was different and why the other words were the same.  It was fun to see how different students chose different words, and how each student was able to support their thoughts.
Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!
Writing about math is a very effective way to help students better understand WHY they're doing what they're doing when solving a math problem. This blog post goes into detail about why having your upper elementary students write about math is worthwhile and shares a lot of visuals, including math journal prompts. Click through to read the full blog post!
There are questions that ask students to explain how topics are related and questions that ask students to explain how or why. Students typically enjoy acrostic prompts where they make an acrostic of a math term such as division. Then for each letter of the word, students write something related to division for each letter.

I love that fact that I get a clear insight to my students’ thinking with these prompts.  They allow us to have deeper classroom discussions, and I have the opportunity to see common misconceptions about different concepts and ideas. I do not correct or grade any of the prompts. I continuously emphasize that the prompts are safe and students don’t need to worry about being wrong. The only real rule is that during our writing time, about 5-10 minutes, students must be writing the entire time. As long as students are writing, I’m happy. When we share the responses, I always try to select responses that have completely different viewpoints and turn those views into a class discussion, which is always powerful.

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I’m Ashleigh!

Hi everyone! I'm Ashleigh, and I'm thrilled that you're here! I'm currently working on my 11th year teaching, which absolutely blows my mind! I can't believe I've been teaching for one-third of my life! … Read More…

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