Unit 1: Reading in Math Class
Reading in Math Class
Some people are entering middle and high school with poor reading skills. These students need more practice so that they can increase their reading skills. English teachers cannot spend all their time on trying to improve everyone’s reading level. They need help from other subjects to improve it. Math is a good subject to help improve and strengthen reading levels. Reading different literature is a key component to a student’s critical thinking level. It helps experts, in that specific topic, to express their ideas to students in either a textbook or other form of literature. Through reading students are able to make connections between specific topics they are studying and the real world. Reading gives students the ability to discover a deeper background on the topics they are covering. From this background knowledge students are able to springboard into that topic. Researchers say that students with prior knowledge on a topic will be able to make better inferences about the topic.
Textbook and other literature
Textbook
If it is written very well then it can serve as an extremely useful tool for students. It explains how to do procedures and complete some problems. It might even give examples of when this topic might be use with the outside word. It also allows students to see how the topic they are studying is connected to previous topics. To most students, reading a textbook is very difficult. With a math textbook it is very difficult to read because “mathematics texts contain more concepts per sentence and paragraph than any other type of text (ASCD old content). The sentences are stuffed with a lot of information with little repetition of the facts. Also the text is laid out so that the eyes are traveling in a different left to right pattern for reading. Taking sometime in the beginning of the year you can help to teach students to read and understand their textbook. There is a problem with using a textbook. If a textbook is your only source of reading it will make it dry and boring for the students. This will not stimulate a students creativity or thinking. You need to add additional resources to help you capture student's minds.
Other Literature
A textbook is a very useful tool to use in your classroom but it should not be the only tool. Books with math concepts embedded in them are very useful. These books will help to catch the interests of your students along with teach them a specific topic. Also you are able to use the numbers from a specific book to help emphasize the material. You can create problems that have students use numbers from the book to find the answer to. This way they will have a strong connection to the work.
Also students need to be able to read world problems and understand their hidden questions. Unlike a normal English paragraph where you have a topic sentence and the rest of it gives you the detail. In a Math problem the main idea almost always comes at the end of the entire paragraph in a question or statement having you find something. The beginning part of the paragraph gives you all the information needed to complete this task. Many students have a difficult time interpreting these types of problems. Through reading these types of problems students will gain a larger vocabulary that will help them interpret these questions.
Examples of literature
Here is a list of books that have math embedded in them:
- Fractals, Googols, and Other Mathematical Tales by Theoni Pappas
- Mathematics for the Trades: A Guided Approach by ~ Robert A. Carman and Hal M. Saunders
- Sir Cumference and the First Round Table (A Math Adventure) by Cindy Neuschwander and Wayne Geehan
- When Are We Ever Gonna Have to Use This? By Hal Saunders
- The Crazy Horse Electric Game, by Chris Crutcher
- Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott
Here is a link with some great books for grades up to 8th. [1]
Here are two more links that have some great books about math. Some of the books might be a bit advance for younger students. [2] and [3]
Thought questions
Read this article up to the third page where a new section on writing begins. [4]
Read this article. It gives some good tips on helping your students read different math literature. [5]
- Why is reading in mathematics so important?
- What are some pros and cons about having students read a textbook?
- Name some tips to help your student comprehend math literature and explain how to accomplish them.
- Write two to three paragraphs explaining either your first exposure to reading beyond a textbook or a bad experience with reading in a math classroom.
Resources
Bafile, C. (2008, 2 20). Math and Literature: A Match Made in the Classroom. Retrieved 20 4, 2009, from Education World: http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr249.shtml
Metsisto, D. (2005). Chapter 2. Reading in the Mathematics Classroom. Retrieved 10 4, 2009, from ASCD: http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/105137/chapters/Reading_in_the_Mathematics_Classroom.aspx
Robertson, K. (2009). Math Instruction for English Language Learners. Retrieved 10 4, 2009, from Reading Rockets: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/30570
Sutton, J., & Krueger, A. (2002). What is the importance of reading and writing in the math curriculum? Retrieved 10 4, 2009, from Intercultural Development Research Association: http://www.idra.org/IDRA_Newsletter/March_2003_Self_Renewing_Schools_Math_and_Science/What_is_the_importance_of_reading_and_writing_in_the_math_curriculum?/
teachers college columbia university. (2001, 6 1). Does reading count in mathematics? Retrieved 10 4, 2009, from teachers college columbia university News: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/news/article.htm?id=2914
Links
Communication in Math Classrooms