Full Description

Language and communication are important to mathematics just as they are to the other content areas. Mathematical Literacy is a powerful resource that introduces you to a wide spectrum of strategies and approaches for building students’ facility in mathematical communication.

 

Mathematical Literacy demonstrates how immersion in the language of math supports improved learning through traditional communication skills such as:

• reading
• writing
• speaking
• listening

 

as well as math-specific communication skills, including:

• symbolizing
• graphing
• creating diagrams
• using tables.

 

It provides everything you need to increase the presence of mathematical language in your classroom, guiding you through the ample research base and theoretical underpinnings supporting its ideas, demonstrating implementation through detailed classroom vignettes, and presenting ready-to-use tools and activities that connect theory directly to practice.

 

Whether you are an individual preservice or practicing teacher, part of a teacher book-study group, or creating whole-staff professional learning, Mathematical Literacy promotes professional learning with questions interspersed throughout that encourage reflection and prompt you to action. It offers many paths for teachers to take as they help students to improve their use of mathematical language and grow as mathematicians.

 

Help every student become fluent readers, speakers, and writers of mathematics. Read Mathematical Literacy and give young adolescents new ways to explain their reasoning, make connections, debate their thinking with peers, and share their struggles—in short to understand mathematics deeply.

 

Additional Resource Information

(click any section below to continue reading)

Contents

 

I. Theoretical Perspectives on Meaning Making

1.  Meaning Making in Mathematics

2.  Communication and Mathematics Literacy

3.  Reading and Language Issues

Summary: Learning from Theoretical Perspectives

II. Classroom Environments to Facilitate Meaning Making

4.  Toward a Discourse Community

5.  Zoom In–Zoom Out: Using Reading Comprehension to Enhance Problem-Solving Skills

6.  Multiple Representations Charts to Enhance Conceptual Understanding

7.  You Be the Judge: Engaging Students in the Assessment Process

Summary: Developing Classroom Environments to Facilitate Meaning Making

III. Teaching Practices That Encourage Meaning Making

8.  Building Meanings Through Concept Development and Communication

9.  Building Meanings Through Language Development

10. Building Meanings Through Speaking and Listening

11. Building Meanings Through Reading

12. Building Meanings Through Writing

Summary: Encouraging Meaning Making in Your Classroom

Appendix: Sample Middle Grades Mathematics Textbook Lesson

 

Samples

• Read a Sample Chapter
• Download a flyer about this book

Reviews

"Sharing research and teaching practices related to building a communication-rich mathematics classroom, this book helps teachers establish a culture where students are expected to explain their thinking, question and debate responses from their peers, and assume responsibility for their learning.  I highly recommend Mathematical Literacy and feel it is a great addition to any mathematics teacher's library.  It is a guide that can be used to help students understand mathematics deeply."
--Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School