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Math Week 6 Article Review For Website

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101 views4 pages

Math Week 6 Article Review For Website

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Running Head: Childrens Literature as a Natural Connection

Article Review on Communicating Mathematically: Childrens Literature as a Natural Connection Ottawa University Angelica Tarver EDU-30030 8/11/2013

Childrens Literature as a Natural Connection

Article Review on Communicating Mathematically: Childrens Literature as a Natural Connection In the article, Communicating Mathematically: Childrens Literature as a Natural Connection, Moyer (2000) discusses the ways that childrens literature promotes mathematical communication, naturally connects to math, and provides context that is easy to explore mathematical concepts, patterns, real-world contexts and problem solving. In this article I learned about the connection between literature, mathematics and real-world contexts as well as illustrations, picture books and mathematical connections. According to Moyer (2000), Both literature and mathematics help us to organize and give order to the world around us; (p. 248) therefore, the connection between literature, mathematics and real-world contexts is important for teachers to incorporate into their lessons. When language and mathematical skills are embedded into meaningful or real-world contexts, learning them becomes fun and pleasant for students (Moyer, 2000). When teachers utilize mathematics in the familiar context of childrens books, it enables the students to view mathematics as an essential part of everyday life. Learning the connection between literature, mathematics and real-world contexts is helpful to me as a classroom teacher because I will utilize this knowledge by incorporating all three into some of my math lessons. For example, I could do a math lesson using the book You Cant Buy a Dinosaur with a Dime by Harriett Ziefert. Utilizing this book would incorporate literature, mathematics and real-world contexts. It incorporates literature because the students would be reading along. Mathematics is incorporated because Pete (and the readers) are adding and subtracting throughout the book. Lastly real-world context is incorporated because Pete is trying to buy a toy dinosaur while adding/subtracting his coins from his money jar. This will enable the students to connect the reading and math problems to their own lives because they will need to add/subtract money in their everyday lives just like Pete. Both written text and illustrations in childrens books provide opportunities for mathematical ideas to be explored (Moyer, 2000, p. 247-248). Illustrations, picture books and mathematical connections are important because teachers can utilize the illustrations provided in the picture books to allow the students to be hands-on in their learning. An interesting fact stated by Moyer (2000) is that in their books authors and

Childrens Literature as a Natural Connection illustrators often intertwine mathematical information into the illustrations. This is beneficial because it will

help teachers communicate in all students learning styles. Learning about the connection between illustrations, picture books and math opened my eyes to more activities to incorporate into my literature integrated math lessons. Continuing with the lesson on You Cant Buy a Dinosaur with a Dime; for example, I could utilize the illustrations in the book because there are double-spread pages with illustrations of coins to make it easier for Pete (and the readers) to count. I could also create extra math problems utilizing the illustrations to provide more practice for the students with money addition/subtraction. Overall, I learned two new benefits of using childrens literature in mathematical instruction. After reading the article Communicating Mathematically: Childrens Literature as a Natural Connection, new ideas emerged for me to use childrens literature in my math lessons. Through the selection of high-quality literature, teachers can use childrens books to integrate and exemplify the important practices of these two subject areas so that the learning of mathematics and the development of language emerge in the elementary classroom as a natural connection (Moyer, 2000, p. 255). This quote really resonated with me because I believe elementary students are more engaged and have a better grasp on the mathematical language and concepts being taught when it is embedded in a picture book with real-world context. This article enhanced my current ideas and methods for teaching elementary school children.

Childrens Literature as a Natural Connection References Moyer, P. S. (2005). Communicating Mathematically: Childrens Literature as a Natural Connection. The Reading Teacher, 54(3), 246-255.

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