I teach fourth grade math and also some social studies units. It is very easy for content area teachers to think they don't have to be concerned with teaching literacy but that is just not true. Literacy instruction involves not only reading and writing, but also listening and speaking. And students need to be given every opportunity to be practicing these key communication skills. There are many language skills and processes that help students while they are learning new content area skills.
In my math classroom, some specific examples of ways I have used literacy to support instruction are problem solving processes and math journals. While solving word problems, we have specific steps we follow which starts with fully understanding the problem. We read the problem twice and underline or circle important information and the question. After solving and checking, students are also asked to explain HOW they solved the problem either in a writing or just discussing with their shoulder partner. I have also taken it a step farther and if students got the problem wrong, I ask them to explain where they think they went wrong and how they can do it differently. My students also have a math journal, which we use for problem solving and also just basic writing prompts such as writing a note to me telling me something they learned that week or writing about their favorite or not so favorite experiences with math. For struggling readers and writers, it helps to have them discuss their ideas with a partner before they begin writing so they can get new ideas from other students.
One social studies unit I teach is over the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. We read a lot of newspaper and magazine articles discussing the topics. I have the kids write a response to a prompt I give them involving what they think an expedition is and what kind of expedition they would like to take one day. They also write about who their favorite Corps of Discovery member is and why. I really enjoy teaching social studies and I think it is a great place to support literacy instruction.
I hope to continue to find ways to teach literacy in my content area instruction. Feel free to share any other ideas you may have for me!
You are doing a great job including literacy into your Math class. You are right. Some students can speak it better than they can write it. I like that you give them a choice plus speaking is an important part of literacy also. It has been several years since I've taught Math. I used to have the students respond to prompts in their Math journal. Each day, I had a few share their answer and what they wrote with the class. The next student that was called on to share had to explain a different way they solved the problem. Some students really got into this. Awesome ideas Rachael!
ReplyDeleteRachael, you made an interesting point that I think is often times forgotten... Literacy is about listening and speaking also. It sounds like you do a great job incorporating literacy into your math curriculum!
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