Math Journal Sundays

02 October 2011
I'm back for another installment of my Math Journal Sundays.  I've got a hot coffee beside me, two out of three children are playing nicely, the sun is shining outside ... life is good.  I think we're getting some family pictures done today - my sister is a beautiful photographer (as you can see on her blog), and has agreed to do some Fall portraits of us.  So excited!!!

photo of steps to problem-solving math journal entry @ Runde's Room

OK - back to the math journals.  We've been doing patterning skills the past few weeks, and it was time to apply the knowledge with some problem-solving.  We first reviewed the Steps to Problem-Solving.  We have a school-created poster in our room that outlines these steps.  We took the steps from the poster and turned them into a foldable for our journal.  (Sorry the pictures are a little dark).  And if you're going to make a footprint foldable, you might as well make the nails pretty.  ;)

On the outside of the footprints we wrote the keywords for problem-solving.


photo of steps to problem-solving math journal entry @ Runde's Room

On the inside of the footprints we summarized the information on the poster for each step.  We're still focusing on summarizing in reading, so I try to integrate it wherever I can.

I let the students draw their own footprints, but upon reflection, this may not have been the best idea.  Some of the footprints were so skinny the students didn't have the room to write on the insides of them.  I do want the students to make these journals "their own", but I'm thinking a template every now and then may not be a bad idea.








photo of steps to problem-solving math journal entry @ Runde's Room

The next day I posted a patterning problem on the blackboard.  I paired up the students, and they set to work on the problem with markers and chart paper.  When most groups had finished their solution, I brought the class back together to look at their solutions.  We took "the best of the best" and made a foldable from the problem.  (Since I had done footprints the day before, I had to do hand prints next.  And of course, the fingernails were screaming to be decorated, as well).


We wrote the problem on the front, read through it, and then highlighted the important information.  Then we began to plan our solution.  One of the groups used the strategy of "solve a simpler problem" (YAY), and the class agreed that they had the best and most efficient plan for solving the problem.

photo of steps to problem-solving math journal entry @ Runde's Room

We wrote our plan out, then wrote our solution inside the foldable.  The students were amazed that the solution was such a large number when we only have 22 students in the class.

When the bell rang at the end of the day, we had to end our day with a handshake, of course.





Happy Sunday!!!








8 comments

  1. I love your Math journal posts. I look forward to seeing what you have done each week. I am pinning them and people are repinning them. You are helping children around the world. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  2. Thanks, Pam! I'm loving these math journals this year, and my students look forward to them, too.

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  3. I also love seeing the awesome foldables you share. You have so many great ideas. I love visiting your blog. I wanted to give you a small award to show my appreciation. I know you have probably already received it, but you are one of the teachers who got me addicted to blogging. Thanks.
    I think you are a versatile blogger!

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  4. Hello BlogFriend!

    The Versatile Blogger Award and/or the Blog on Fire Award are hereby bestowed upon you and your blog!

    Come to Finding Joy in 6th Grade to pick up your award...

    Kim
    http://joyin6th.blogspot.com

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  5. I think it's awesome that a group solved the problem that way! Gives me hope!

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  6. I think it's awesome that a group solved the problem that way! Gives me hope!

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  7. I am trying notebooking with my class for the first time this year. How do you handle the amount of time it takes to cut out the foldables? Do you make them ahead of time? I am at a year round school, so we started last week and I noticed it took a lot of time for several students to cut out simple shapes. Any suggestions?
    Donna
    PS Thanks for all of your fabulous ideas.

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