Math Journal Sundays

It's a rainy day this morning ... rainy and chilly.  I guess it's nature's way of telling me to stay inside and clean my house today.  So ... let the procrastination begin ...

I've got some GREAT foldables to share with you today.  This week I had a reader ask me how I use my math journals in my classroom.  I guess my math journals are more of an interactive glossary or how-to manual.  Every time we have a new definition, or a formula or procedure, I try to do a foldable for it.  Students keep their foldables in their math journals, which is organized with a table of contents and page numbers at the top of each page.  I've been really excited to see my students use their journals as a tool during independent work or problem-solving activities.  I'm starting to see them go to their journals first for help, rather than lining up at my desk.  YAY!



So, we're diving into the world of prime and composite numbers, and factors and multiples.  LOVE this quick unit.  I have a few really fun hands-on lessons from my newest math resource (see my last post here) that I'm excited to try.

On Monday we made two four-folds to define and give examples of prime and composite numbers and factors and multiples.

On Tuesday we made a Venn diagram to show common factors and the greatest common factor.  We also defined these terms under the foldable.

And on Wednesday we started on prime factors.  So of course, we had to make a foldable factor "tree".

Thursday we had our big three-part lesson on prime factors, and so many students went back to their math journals to see the factor tree.


























I've been thinking I want to start math centers or stations in the classroom - something on a far more organized and larger scale than I've done before.  Okay - I've been more than thinking, I went out and started to buy a few things.  I got some large sterilite containers, some flashcards, some sticker paper for cute labels, and a few more things.  Getting it finished is my project for this week - hopefully I can get it finished by Wednesday so the students can have a center day on Thursday.  I can't wait to share it with you when I'm done.  I've been reading and researching a lot, and pinning ideas I've seen, but I'd love to hear if and how you do math centers in your classroom.  If you use math centers with your older students, please leave a comment with some advice for me.

And ... of course ... one of my math centers wouldn't be complete if they didn't have a pack of my cootie catchers (my students LOVE these).  So, I made up a pack of Factors and Multiples Cootie Catchers.  Each pack has 12 different cootie catchers - 2 of each for:  prime and composite numbers, factors, G.C.F, prime factorization, multiples, and L.C.M.  The pack also contains a BONUS Factors and Multiples worksheet to use as independent practice or a quiz.  Click on the picture to the right to preview it.  And as always ... if you are one of the first three people to leave me a comment with your email address, I'll send you a copy.

Happy Sunday!!!