Harjoituskirja

Harjoituskirja is a Finnish term for a workbook or practice book used in education to provide exercises that reinforce learning. It is commonly used in Finnish primary and secondary schools, as well as in language learning settings. A harjoituskirja is designed to accompany the main course materials, offering additional problems and activities that students complete on their own or in class.

A typical harjoituskirja contains a sequence of exercises organized by topic or chapter. Entries may include space for written solutions, short explanations, and occasionally hints or worked examples. Some editions feature answer keys for self-checking, while others are designed for teacher review. The format varies by subject, level, and publisher, ranging from mathematics and language practice to science and social studies.

In daily use, the harjoituskirja serves as a supplement to the core textbook (oppikirja) and as a tool for independent practice. It is often used for homework, drills, and revision, helping students consolidate concepts, improve procedural fluency, and track progress over time. Teachers may assign specific pages or sets of exercises and use the completed work as part of assessment.

Variants and related terms include subject-specific harjoituskirjat (for example, mathematics or Finnish language workbooks) and general tehtäväkirja, which also denotes an exercise book. The term is distinct from muistikirja (notebook) and oppikirja (textbook) but is part of the broader repertoire of instructional materials used in Finnish education.