Login with Facebook Register | Lost Password
Skip to Content
  • National African American History Month:

    February is National African American History Month! To view websites on African American history, click here.

  • KnowledgeBases:

    MC3's KnowledgeBases are topical collections of information and resources on specific subject areas. To see available KnowledgeBases, click here.

  • Common Core State Standards: MC3 has weblinks on Common Core State Standards, including information on assessment, equity issues, funding, implementation, special populations, and state resources. Check it out here.

KnowledgeBases > The Adolescent Literacy KnowledgeBase > Element 4 > Activity 1 > Task 4: Integrate with Mathematics

Guideline:

Literacy plays an important part in learning mathematics; however, math applications may not be as obvious as other content areas due to the sparseness of connected text and the procedural nature of the content area. Though such applications may be lacking, fourth and fifth grade teachers should be aware of how vocabulary is critical to understanding and reading symbols, while charts, graphics, and comprehension are important to conceptual understanding. Possessing such awareness enables fourth and fifth grade teachers to enhance instructional strategies in mathematics.

Tools Adolescent Literacy Toolkit _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link to the Council of Chief State School Officers' Adolescent Literacy Toolkit provides resources for states and high school content area teachers.

Tools Comprehension Strategies _EXTERNAL_LINK

This page at AdLit.org contains a library of comprehension strategies teachers can use in the classroom before, during, and after reading a text. 

Tools Mathematics Bookshelf _EXTERNAL_LINK

From the Ohio Resource Center, "The Mathematics Bookshelf features outstanding trade books that support mathematics instruction in K-12 classrooms. Mathematics Review Board members have selected books that will appeal to students and enrich the teaching and learning of mathematics."

References A Maths Dictionary for Kids _EXTERNAL_LINK

As noted at its website, this is "an animated, interactive dictionary for students which explains over 600 common mathematical terms in simple language." 

References Bringing Literacy Strategies into Content Instruction _EXTERNAL_LINK

As noted in its introduction, this Center on Instruction document "provides research-based guidance on academic literacy instruction in the content areas." The vignettes offered provide examples of how literacy instruction can be integrated into content area instruction. 

References Designing Vocabulary Instruction in Mathematics _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to an abstract from the International Reading Association's (IRA's) The Reading  Teacher publication. IRA membership is required to access the article. Non-subscribers may purchase an individual copy of the article.

References Integrating Writing into the Mathematics Classroom _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to a Teaching Today website exploring how to integrate writing in the mathematics classroom.

References Learning Mathematics Vocabulary: Potential Pitfalls and Instructional Strategies _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to an abstract of an article published in the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM's) Mathematics Teacher publication. As noted in its abstract, "This article focuses on vocabulary as one aspect of language that is necessary for overall mathematics achievement. Potential vocabulary problems are identified, and instructional strategies to promote vocabulary development are provided." Access to the article is limited to  NCTM members. Non-subcribers may purchase the article from NCTM.

References Math Songs: Teaching Math Facts & Concepts _EXTERNAL_LINK

This website provides links to songs for teaching math that are available for purchase on a CD or as a music download.

References Reading and Understanding Written Math Problems _EXTERNAL_LINK

This article at AdLit.org offers strategies for helping students learn key terminology before attempting to solve mathematical word problems. 

References Using Mnemonic Instruction To Teach Math _EXTERNAL_LINK

This article at AdLit.org offers "three types of mnemonic strategies that can be used effectively in teaching math facts, order of operations, measurement, geometry, problem-solving techniques, and other areas of math."

Print Print this page

Next: Task 5: Integrate with Science Previous: Task 3: Instill Through Writing


The contents of this website were developed under a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Education. The information presented on this website is intended for general reference purposes only, and information/linked content is not necessarily endorsed by the Mid-Continent Comprehensive Center or the U.S. Department of Education.