Math Journal Sundays

25 September 2011

I'm back for another installment of my math journal Sundays.  This week my oldest daughter (8 years old) "discovered" my math journal when she was looking for something in school bag, and she thought it was the coolest thing she had ever seen (proud mommy moment sidenote:  on her "All About Me" poster that she brought home this week she listed ME as her favourite teacher.  LOVE that girl!).  I'm not sure these math journals are "the coolest things ever", but I'm sure loving them in the classroom.  I've had a few students ask if they can bring them home to show their parents ... ummmmm ... YES!!!

photo of patterning math journal entry @ Runde's Room

We are halfway through our patterning and algebra unit (just finished the mid-chapter review on Friday).  We finished two foldable entries this week.

This entry was for "Finding the Rule".  The students are still practising how to identify the explicit pattern rule in a T-Table.  For this foldable, we folded a piece of paper into thirds.  On the right side "third", we cut four flaps that will open outwards (see picture below).  We made four different T-table examples, and when you open the flap on the right, the students wrote the pattern rule.  Some of them are getting quite quick at finding the explicit rule!




photo of patterning math journal entry @ Runde's Room

This is a view "under the flaps".  They did have a little difficulty with the two step rule, but we'll get there ...














photo of patterning math journal entry @ Runde's Room

As Friday was our mid-chapter review, we did a review foldable.  We reviewed the term "variable", identified the rule in a T-table, and then extended the pattern using the rule.

For this foldable, we folded our paper into fourths.  We glued the top fourth to the page, so that when the book is open, we can pull the foldable out into a full page (see below).


photo of patterning math journal entry @ Runde's Room


On the top fourth we wrote a T-table pattern.  Next, we described the rule in words.  Next we wrote the explicit rule as an algebraic expression, and lastly we extended the T-table using the pattern rule.  The students really liked this foldable - the fact that all the work was hidden until they pulled the foldable out.



Next week (near the end of our unit) I am going to do a similar foldable for their reflections (summary of learning) on the unit.  They will need to record one reflection on each of the flaps, and give an example using numbers, pictures, and words.  As they will be completing the reflection on their own, I'll be able to assess it.



Happy Sunday!!!  I do believe the sun is wanting to peek out from behind the clouds here (it's rained ALL week) - hoping it does so we can go on a fall leaf drive and have a picnic supper.  Fingers crossed!!!





12 comments

  1. WOW!!! I am so impressed with your journals. I am doing a "loose representation" of your journals with my 5th graders this year. It is working out nicely, but you are so good with all these foldables!! I hope mine can turn out half as nice as yours!

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  2. Thanks, Jodi! It's my first time doing the journals this way - I'm hoping I don't run out of foldable ideas ;).

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  3. Good idea!! I just started math journals this year, but not to this extent. They just respond to a word problem each morning and then we discuss strategies for solving.

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  4. Your math journals are awesome! I am awarding you the Versatile Blogger Award. Thanks for being so inspiring. : )

    http://mrsrobinsonsclassroomblog.blogspot.com/

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  5. These are awesome! I'm going to try this for sure. I love the idea of the kids having this great finished journal at the end of the year :0)
    Thans for sharing!

    Denise
    Sunny Days In Second Grade

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  6. http://www.squidoo.com/lapbooking

    I just found this website for something called lapbooking (making mini-books to put together into an organized larger project). I think some of these ideas may be useful for your math journals too. They look awesome! Thanks for the ideas.

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  7. I love your blog! You keep me full of ideas for my 4/5 split class here in Niagara

    ~Jen B.

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  8. I LOVE the way your put your journals together - I hadn't thought of sticking all my foldables INSIDE the journal (DUH!) *grin* I received a recommendation from Barbara at The Corner On Character to check out your blog - it is as amazing as she claimed :) Thanks for sharing all your great ideas!

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  9. Thanks, everyone! I'm so glad that people are liking the idea of these math journals - my math journals used to be just responding to questions - I'm finding this so much more satisfying, and I really feel it's giving the students a useful reference tool.
    @Amy - I found that site this week, too - after I started a very plain lapbook project for science - the site is AWESOME - I can't wait to do more lapbooking in the future!

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  10. I love your journaling ideas! I awarded you the Versatile Blogger Award.

    http://rundesroom.blogspot.com/

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  11. Thank you so much for sharing! I think your math journals are AWESOME!!!

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