Introducing the Math Notebook to Your Students
✅ Step 4: Get ready to get excited: Introducing the Math Notebook to your students.
If you want students to value these notebooks, you are going to have to treat them as something truly special and set them up based around 4 key principles.
✨ Lasting Points: Key Takeaways for Setting the Intention
- Set the intention early. Present math notebooks as a special, treasured tool for capturing student thinking and growth.
- Introduce notebooks with purpose. Build them into your routines from the start (Day 2 of the math block if using Day Zero).
- Make it meaningful. Emphasize that notebooks are like a “math photo album,” showing progress, risk-taking, and accomplishments over time.
- Use the 4 guiding principles I've included here. Math notebooks capture our journey, provide a safe space to explore, serve as a reference tool, and help students grow as thinkers.
- Be explicit with expectations. Create a Looks Like/Sounds Like chart together and keep expectations visible (copied into notebooks or glued in for reference).
Take a moment to plan what expectations you have for your students using the included download.
Principles and Looks Like Chart.pdf
Download
What are your expectations for how you will interact with math notebooks?
We have talked so much about student expectations, but what about yours? How are you going to ensure that math notebooks are used well? What steps will you take to encourage students to participate?
Take a moment to think of 4 ways you can help students to get excited about their math notebooks.
✨ Lasting Points: Teacher Habits that Support Math Notebooks
- Keep notebooks visible and accessible. If they’re out of sight, they’ll likely be forgotten.
- Model with your own notebook. Students take notebooks seriously when you do. Treat yours like a valuable tool, not just an example.
- Avoid writing in student notebooks. Use sticky notes for feedback to respect their work and preserve ownership.
- Encourage creativity. Let students use crayons, colored pencils, and highlighters to organize and express their thinking.
✅ Step 5: Personalize your math notebooks to make them truly your own.
Decorate them with pictures, stickers and student art. Remind students that these will likely be permanent. You can secure them with mailing tape or contact paper.
Here's mine again: