text: In this series on creating an interactive math notebook with your children at home, I have covered the basics knowing what a math notebook consists of, getting the facts down, and suggestions of how to add engaging creative elements. While much of the fun and time spent with your child is in creating the notebook, the goal is that the notebook will be so well done that it can be used for a reference for the school year or beyond.
  In the first post, you were asked to set aside some pages in the front of the notebook for a table of contents and then label the page numbers as you add more information. This will help your child to use this to review at home or to reflect back upon content as they need to review the material. Many math topics build upon each other and if they are able to master one skill it makes the next skill easier. Being able to quickly go back in a notebook that the child has created is much more engaging than searching in a textbook. Being able to make connections and recognize building blocks or foundational concepts helps children to be more successful in math. For example, if children are able to learn their times tables by memory through the use of interactive tools, they improve their quick recall skills and can then use this at the next level when performing division.
  Helping them to make these connection is very important. Since the children created the book, they have more ownership over their learning and utilizing it throughout their math learning. It can also be added to and changed at any time, and can be referred to as a living document. You can encourage changes and additions to their math notebook as they move through the math curriculum.