The Power of Maths Journaling with Dr Kirsten Fenton and Holly Drummond

Thinking Deeply about Primary Education

Author

Kieran Mackle
October 20, 2025

The Power of Maths Journaling with Dr Kirsten Fenton and Holly Drummond

Good Morning!

When Holly Drummond and Dr Kirsten Fenton joined me to discuss maths journaling, I suspected it would be a good conversation — but I didn’t expect it to feel quite so transformative.

They describe journaling not as an add-on, but as a pedagogy in its own right. It’s about capturing the story of learning: the false starts, the corrections, the small triumphs that make mathematical understanding visible. Listening to them, you realise that maths journaling isn’t just about writing — it’s about thinking.

What struck me most was how naturally it supports confidence. Students learn to express uncertainty, reflect on their reasoning and see mistakes as part of progress. The idea that every jotter tells a story of growth feels profoundly important for building mathematical identity.

If you’re interested in practical ways to make thinking visible, nurture talk, and build a classroom culture rooted in reflection, you’ll want to hear this one.

The Power of Maths Journaling with Dr Kirsten Fenton and Holly Drummond by Thinking Deeply about Primary Education

Episode 250: In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Dr Kirsten Fenton and Holly Drummond to explore the power of mathematical journaling…

creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/kieran-mackle/episodes/The-Power-of-Maths-Journaling-with-Dr-Kirsten-Fenton-and-Holly-Drummond-e39lbve/a-ac7daqj

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Visual Summary

Mathematical Journaling in 8 Minutes 19 seconds

Challenge and Depth in Primary Mathematics

Looking to strengthen challenge and depth in primary mathematics without increasing workload? Join us in Oldham, Greater Manchester this autumn.

This practical workshop is designed to turn routine tasks into rich thinking by increasing cognitive demand in simple, workable ways.

We will develop:

  • in-the-moment habits that keep every student thinking,

  • responsive prompts to sustain challenge and guide students towards generalisation

  • sequences that move from representation to reasoning to proof,

  • ready-to-use materials and routines that help replace worksheet tiers with intellectual rigour and purposeful challenge.

Don't miss out on the chance to expand your mathematical horizons! Click for tickets…

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Until next time, thanks for listening.