Unit 2: Writing in Math Class
Math Class Writing
It has been researched that writing in math classes leads to both a better understanding of the material and heightened math communication skills. This can be a quick evaluation of the students to check and see what knowledge they understand. Students are forced to think and recall the knowledge they have learned. From that they have to be able to put it in their own words so they can explain the process. It is very difficult to get every student involved with a class discussion however it is very easy to get your students to write something. Students always need more practice with writing no matter what that writing is. There is a whole history of math topics that students are not able to investigate. This will allow them to strengthen their background knowledge and discover interesting topics that were once oblivious to them.
Wrong answers/find what’s done right
When you are looking at your student’s papers, you should not focus everything on what they did wrong. Find parts where they did things correctly and to show them they are on the right track. Also a student might have the work done right but did the calculations wrong which does not mean they don’t know the material. Focusing too much on right vs wrong will not help students learn the material. It will just promote students to memorize procedures and after completing the task they will forget them.
Assignments
There are several different types of math writing assignments you can have you students do. For shorter assignments you can have your students write journals, free-writes, or even written description of a problem. Then you can have longer assignments for students such as biographies or research papers on math topics.
Graphic organize about what you read
After reading the textbook or other literature students can use a graph organizer instead of writing a paper. Graphic organizers can be used to help students organize mathematical concepts as well as strengthen understanding of those concepts. The students are forced to use the knowledge they have learned to produce the graphic organizer as well as they have to put the information into their own words.
Example
One example of a graphic organizer is called the Frayer Model. In the Frayer model the students divide a sheet of paper into four equal pieces and you write the concept or topic in the center. You start in the upper left hand corner and write a definition in your own words of that concept or topic. Then you move to the box to its right and write all the facts about that concept or topic. From this knowledge they will need to come up with a few examples of the given concept or term and put it in the lower left hand corner. In the last quarter the students need to place counter examples of the term. Below is an example of a Frayer model with composite numbers.
Thought Question
Finish reading this article. [1]
Read this article. It gives some good reasons why to include writing in math and explanations of writing assignments. [2]
- Give some reasons as to why writing is important in a math classroom.
- Name two informal and formal writing assignments and how you would use them in your classroom.
Resources
Burns, M. (2005, 3). Marilyn Burns: 10 Big Math Ideas. Retrieved 10 6, 2009, from scholastic: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3596
Kawas, T. (2008). Writing in Mathematics. Retrieved 10 6, 2009, from Mathwire: http://mathwire.com/writing/writing1.html Lovell, E. (2002)
Platonic Realms. (2009). Writing for a math class. Retrieved 10 6, 2009, from Platonic Realms: http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/minitext/writing/
Silbey, R. (2005, 3). Math Out Loud! Retrieved 10 6, 2009, from scholastic: http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3585
Toliver, K. (2009). Math and Communication . Retrieved 10 6, 2009, from facenet: http://www.fasenet.org/store/kay_toliver/math_and_communication.htm
Links
Communication in Math Classrooms