Help kids practice slowing down and taking the time to fully comprehend a math topic or problem-solving situation with these classic tools of learning: Notice. Wonder. Create.
- Notice: Look carefully at the details of the numbers, shapes, or patterns you see. What are their attributes? How do they relate to each other? Also notice the details of your own mathematical thinking. How do you respond to a tough problem? Which responses are most helpful? Where did you get confused, or what makes you feel discouraged?
- Wonder: Ask the journalist’s questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how? Who might need to know about this topic? Where might we see it in the real world? When would things happen this way? What other way might they happen? Why? What if we changed the situation? How might we change it? What would happen then? How might we figure it out?
- Create: Create a description, summary, or explanation of what you learned. Make your own related math puzzle, problem, art, poetry, story, game, etc. Or create something totally unrelated, whatever idea may have sparked in your mind.
Math journaling may seem to focus on this third tool, creation. But even with artistic design prompts, we need the first two tools because they lay a solid groundwork to support the child’s imagination.
How To Use an Explanation Prompt
The formality that deters so many students from geometry proofs is avoided in math journal explanations. These unofficial “reason-poems” are fundamental to a student’s comprehension. How did they come to this conclusion? Why is their approach effective? Is the trend they discovered genuine or only a passing coincidence? How are they aware?
You may always return to the fundamental mathematical question, “Why?” when you run out of original journaling ideas.
Give older pupils the task of explaining a concept in a way that a kindergartener or second grader could comprehend. That’s harder than it seems, but the effort compels pupils to define their own opinions on the subject.
This is an excerpt from Math Journal Task Cards Mega-Bundle: 312 Ways To Play with Math. Discover more of my books, printable activities, and cool mathy merchandise at Denise Gaskins’ Playful Math Store.
Special Offer: Would you like to access a growing archive of Thinking Thursday prompts and other activity ideas as convenient printable pdf downloads, ready to print and play with your kids? Join me on Patreon for mathy inspiration, tips, printable activities, and more.
“Thinking Thursday: Payday Puzzle” copyright © 2025 by Denise Gaskins. Image at the top of the post copyright © 4masik / Depositphotos.
