Math Notebooking

What you see in the picture above is math notebooking in action. My daughter is creating equivalent fraction diagrams with fraction manipulatives that we had just used to play a game. Because the manipulatives are made of paper, she can easily affix them to a sheet of paper, add her notes, and store this page in her notebook.

A math notebook is not just a notebook full of boring worksheets and math problems. It's far more than that! It's a notebook filled with a variety of math related ideas and experiences.

The possibilities are many:

• drawings to illustrate math problems or math concepts


• written explanations of mental calculations


• graphic organizers with math concepts


• math vocabulary lists


• math inspired art (such as tangram art)


• an interview of an adult who uses math in his job


• minibooks


• copywork related to the science of math


• newspaper or magazine clippings of math related stories


• photographs of children doing a hands-on project


• the actual hands-on materials or manipulatives (use sheet protectors to hold them or tape/glue them on)


• charts and graphs


• creative writing that features math within the story


• an explanation of how a problem was solved


• biographical sketches of mathematicians from history

Choose whatever kind of notebook you prefer. Some people like spiral bound notebooks, but most notebookers like to use 3-ring binders because of the versatility. With a three ring notebook, you can add in most anything simply by using a sheet protector.

For example, this sleeve protector holds a very long chart we made on fax paper.

Here is my daughter pulling out the chart to use again for the study of prime numbers.

When we're done with the chart, it goes back into the math notebook for storage.

Marilyn Burns has written a concise article about the value of math journals. It's a wonderful introduction to the philosophy behind this instructional method.

Basically, writing about math stimulates a different part of the brain than simply working the arithmetic alone. By using multiple parts of the brain during the learning process, the understanding is deepened and retention is increased. In fact, the more ways you can learn math (through art, music, drawing, writing for example) the more pathways you create in the mind. Those pathways then become a network of various avenues for the student to travel along in doing math problem solving. It's like having four ways to get home from the grocery store instead of just one.

Also, writing about math may be a good lure for a reluctant writer who enjoys math. Use the topic he likes -- math -- for his writing assignments. Paragraphs and essays can even come out of math related topics! And for students who don't particularly like math but excel in verbal activities, math journals are a way to shine in math class! Creative students may also enjoy drawing diagrams and sketches to illustrate math ideas.

Amazingly, the process of writing and the process of mathematical problem solving have some similarities. Both require organized thought and logically presentation. So although the skills are different, there are some similar cognitive functions going on.

Besides helping cement a child's learning, you, the teacher can find out if the child really understands the mathematical concept. By reading a math journal, you get an inside view into your child's math understanding and can then address any errors that you find.

Things to encourage in a math journal entry:

• the use of correct math vocabulary


• the use of complete sentences


• the use of specific examples


• detailed explanations of results

If you like what you see in this notebooking exhibit and want to learn more about how to best use notebooking in your homeschool, Notebooking Success is a wonderful guide.

Written by a homeschool mom who has used notebooking for many years, Notebooking Success shows how to use notebooking to promote learning and retention. There are specific suggestions for different grade levels and for using notebooking with several styles of homeschool.