What Is Thinking Thursday?

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Thinking Thursday math journal prompt

There’s a new math journaling prompt this week.

Have your kids tried it yet?

This week’s prompt features one of my explain-your-reasoning to get kids thinking (and writing) about math while avoiding the formality that turns so many students away from geometry proofs. Or you might prefer last week’s prompt, featuring a classic math brainteaser and encouraging students to create their own related puzzles.

Or, if you’re reading this post later and missed those, there’s another great new prompt this week for you to explore.

Check it out:

Visit Thinking Thursday

Continue reading What Is Thinking Thursday?

What Is Math Game Monday?

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Learn a new math game every week, for free

There’s a new Math Game Monday this week.

Have your kids tried it yet?

This week’s game is one of my favorites for upper-elementary and middle school students, offering plenty of practice doing estimation and mental math with fractions. Or you might prefer last week’s game, featuring a classic two-player logic puzzle that develops strategic reasoning.

Or, if you’re reading this post later and missed those, there’s another great new game this week for you to play.

Check it out:

Visit Math Game Monday

Continue reading What Is Math Game Monday?

Musings: Math is Communication

Posted on by Denise Gaskins
Young boy writing math expressions

The question came up on a homeschool math forum:

“My first grader and I were playing with equivalent expressions. We were trying to see how many ways we could write the value ‘3.’

    “He wrote down 10 – 2 × 3 + 1.

      “When I tried to explain the problem with his calculation, he got frustrated and didn’t want to do math.

        “How can I help him understand order of operations?”

        [If you think this sounds like too complex of a math expression for a first grader, you may want to read my blog post about math manipulatives and big ideas.]

        Order of operations doesn’t matter in this instance. What matters is communication.

        The mother didn’t know how to read what her son wrote.

        He could help her understand by putting parentheses around the part he wanted her to read first.

        He doesn’t need to know abstract rules for arbitrary calculations, or all the different ways we might possibly misunderstand each other. He just needs to know how to say what is in his mind.

        Continue reading Musings: Math is Communication

        FAQ: The Value of Math Rebellion

        Posted on by Denise Gaskins
        Math Rebels fight for truth, justice, and creative reasoning

        I’ve been getting questions about my Math Journaling Adventures books:

        “I’m so excited to try math journaling! We bought your Logbook Alpha, and my 11-year-old math-averse son is trying to be a math rebel at every turn.

          “But I feel uncomfortable with the idea of rebellion. Doesn’t he need to learn how to solve math problems the right way?”

          One of my favorite things about math is that there really is no “right” way to solve math problems.

          As I pointed out in my ongoing Mental Math series, even a problem as basic as 6+8 can be approached from many directions. So perhaps I should say, the “right” way is however the student wants to make sense of the problem.

          In math, sense-making and reasoning are always the most important things.

          Continue reading FAQ: The Value of Math Rebellion