
Mathematical Journaling in Action: Helping Students Think, Struggle and Explain
Thinking Deeply about Primary EducationShow Notes
Get your tickets for the TDaPE Conference Online For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the Hey! What You Reading For newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe AI For Teachers newsletter For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via [email protected] Learn more about The Story of Maths - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview and www.acel.pro
Episode 289: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Mark Bowen to explore mathematical journaling in action. Following on from a previous episode with Kirsten and Holly on mathematical journaling, Mark shares how he took the idea, adapted it for his own class, and developed a simple classroom structure built around three phases: download, investigate and communicate. We discuss how journaling can help students move beyond surface-level calculation, become more comfortable with struggle, draw on prior knowledge, experiment with different approaches, and explain their mathematical thinking with greater clarity. Mark also talks candidly about implementation: what worked, what did not, why he introduced a classroom character called Trev, how he used modelling and scaffolding to support students, and why he would slow the process down if he were starting again. This is a wonderfully practical episode about helping students become more active, reflective and confident mathematical thinkers. If you are interested in problem solving, reasoning, metacognition, mathematical journaling, curriculum design or simply making mathematics feel more purposeful in the classroom, this conversation is well worth your time.
More from Thinking Deeply about Primary Education
Learn more about The Story of Maths and ACEL Pro - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview and https://www.acel.pro For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via [email protected] Get your tickets for the TDaPE Conference Edinburgh Maths PD Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow - https://alta-education.com/cpd-tour-26-27/ For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the Hey! What You Reading For newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe AI For Teachers newsletter Work with Ben in Panama - https://www.tes.com/jobs/vacancy/early-years-teacher-panama-2349341
Learn more about The Story of Maths and ACEL Pro - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview and https://www.acel.pro
Learn more about The Story of Maths and ACEL Pro - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview and https://www.acel.pro For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via [email protected] Get your tickets for the TDaPE Conference Edinburgh Maths PD Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow - https://alta-education.com/cpd-tour-26-27/ For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the Hey! What You Reading For newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe AI For Teachers newsletter
Learn more about The Story of Maths and ACEL Pro - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview and https://www.acel.pro For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via [email protected] Get your tickets for the TDaPE Conference Edinburgh Maths PD Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow - https://alta-education.com/cpd-tour-26-27/ For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the Hey! What You Reading For newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe AI For Teachers newsletter
Learn more about The Story of Maths and ACEL Pro - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview and https://www.acel.pro For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via [email protected] Get your tickets for the TDaPE Conference Edinburgh Maths PD Dublin, Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow - https://alta-education.com/cpd-tour-26-27/ For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the Hey! What You Reading For newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe AI For Teachers newsletter