Math Journal Prompts for Intermediate and Middle School

Encourage your middle school/intermediate math students to clearly explain their ideas about concepts (like ratio, area, and algebra) in complete sentences using appropriate vocabulary and relevant diagrams. These open-ended questions require students to explain how they figured out their answers or to judge options using their mathematic understanding. They are a great review of math concepts learned earlier in the year or in previous grades, and they allow students to practice critical thinking skills too.

This bundle includes 20 journal entry topics so you can use two a month for the entire school year. You and your students can track their progress and development. The journals are not numbered, so you can use them in whatever order works best for your class.

This could be a fantastic addition to your math program for the new school year!

A rubric for easy marking is also included. Students are assessed on their process, vocabulary, completeness, and visuals. This allows you to easily see student progress if you assess one or two journals per term. You could also use them as artifacts for parent-teacher conferences.

Topics covered:

- fractions and percent: equivalent fractions, fraction and decimal relationships, division of fractions, fractions to percent, percent discounts

- probability and data collection: flipping coins, surveys, experiments

- geometry: area and perimeter, triangles, rotations,

- pre-algebra: one-step equations, membership rates

- place value: large numbers, decimals to thousandths

- factors and ratios

For each topic, students are encouraged to write in complete sentences and explain all of their thinking clearly and explicitly. Don't assume the teacher knows what you are thinking! They should also draw some diagrams to support their thinking. This could include area and perimeter models, fraction models, t-charts and tables, and more.

A total of 28 pages in PDF form:

20 unique journal prompts and a ready-to-go rubric for assessment