Using Writing In Mathematic

Miguel guhlin's personal annotations on this page

Mguhlin bookmarked on 2009-10-30

Using Writing In
Mathematics
This strand provides a developmental model for incorporating
writing into a math class. The strand includes specific suggestions
for managing journals, developing prompts for writing, and providing
students with feedback on their writing. In addition, the site
includes two sample lessons for introducing students to important
ideas related to writing about their mathematical thinking.
Have students write a "mathography"-a paragraph or so in which
they describe their feelings about and experiences in math, both
in and out of school. (This is a good tool to get to know students
early in the year, and to make comparisons later when looking for
signs of progress.
Find ways to keep students writing for the allotted time:
Getting Students to Write about Familiar
Mathematical Ideas
Once your students have become accustomed to writing about
their attitudes and feelings toward mathematics in their journals,
they are ready to write about simple, familiar math concepts. It is
important not to make the writing too difficult by asking them to
write about unfamiliar math ideas. Using writing to review familiar
math ideas will increase confidence and skill in writing as well as
revisit important math concepts.

Sample Directions:

Explain in your own words what subtraction
means.

Explain what is most important to understand about
fractions.
Use student writing samples to help them refine their writing.
Introduce the term metacognition to help students understand
the reason and audience for their writing.

This link has been bookmarked by 23 people . It was first bookmarked on 24 Jun 2008, by Patrick Higgins.

15 Dec 09

Ed Findlen
writing across the curriculum,excellent.
12 Nov 09

brian emerson
differentiation resources writing math
30 Oct 09

Miguel guhlin
- Using Writing In
  Mathematics
- This strand provides a developmental model for incorporating
  writing into a math class. The strand includes specific suggestions
  for managing journals, developing prompts for writing, and providing
  students with feedback on their writing. In addition, the site
  includes two sample lessons for introducing students to important
  ideas related to writing about their mathematical thinking.
- 8 more annotations...
- - Writing about thinking is challenging. For this reason, it's best
    not to start out having students write about unfamiliar mathematical
    ideas. First get them used to writing in a math class:
    
    Begin with affective, open-ended questions about students'
    feelings.
    
    Sample Direction #1: Reflect on your participation
    in class today and complete the following statements:
    
    I learned that I...
    
    I was surprised that I...
    
    I noticed that I...
    
    I discovered that I...
    
    I was pleased that I...
    
    Sample Direction #2: Describe how you feel about
    solving _________ problem.
  - Have students write a "mathography"-a paragraph or so in which
    they describe their feelings about and experiences in math, both
    in and out of school. (This is a good tool to get to know students
    early in the year, and to make comparisons later when looking for
    signs of progress.
  - Find ways to keep students writing for the allotted time:
  - Getting Students to Write about Familiar
    Mathematical Ideas
  - Once your students have become accustomed to writing about
    their attitudes and feelings toward mathematics in their journals,
    they are ready to write about simple, familiar math concepts. It is
    important not to make the writing too difficult by asking them to
    write about unfamiliar math ideas. Using writing to review familiar
    math ideas will increase confidence and skill in writing as well as
    revisit important math concepts.
    
    Sample Directions:
    
    Explain in your own words what subtraction
    means.
    
    Explain what is most important to understand about
    fractions.
  - Use student writing samples to help them refine their writing.
  - Introduce the term metacognition to help students understand
    the reason and audience for their writing.
  - When you feel your students are ready, ask them to write about
    more complex mathematical ideas, including concepts being taught at
    their current grade level. To help you move your students into this
    more advanced level of writing about their thinking. Here are some
    other suggestions to help you:
    
    1. Encourage your students to use drawings and graphs to explain
    their thinking.
    
    Research shows that using simple visual aids (diagrams,
    graphs, etc.) improves mathematical problem-solving ability,
    especially in female students.
    Ask the group to write a summary of how they reached a
    solution, including any "false starts" or "dead ends."
    Ask each individual to write an explanation of the group's
    work on a problem. Have the small groups discuss the individual
    explanations.
    After a small group assignment, have students "explain and
    illustrate two different approaches to solving a problem."
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Patrick Higgins
This site shows some great ways to get started writing in math classes.

mathematics metacognition thinking writing prompts connections
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