Writing in Math

Class

Whitney Lewis
National Council of Teachers
of Mathmatics
Written communication should enable math students to:

Communicate mathematical thinking clearly to others

Analyze and evaluate thinking and strategies of others
Use mathematical "language" to express ideas percisley
Organize and consolidate mathematical thinking
 Types of Writing
Journaling Solving Problems

Write about:

Students write story problems
What you did
Writing out their strategies
What you learned

What are you unsure about

 Write about
Explaining Ideas
learning process

Have students: Writing that does not

focus on the math itself:

Explain why the answer Favorite or least favorite activities in the unit
makes sense
Qualities of a good problem-solving partner
Explain how to solve a
problem Directions for a game or activity

Letters describing the activities they do in class

 Strategies to
Sentence Stems
Incorporate Writing
I think the answer is ______________
because ______________.

A different way to solve this problem is

______________.

I don’t understand ______________.

Math Word
The most important part of solving this
problem is to remember Wall
______________.

What I know about ______________ so

far is ______________.

I knew my answer was right when

______________.
 References

http://libproxy.library.wmich.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=tfh&AN=14635591&site=ehost-live

“Writing in Math.” Educational Leadership, 2004, pp. 30–33, mathsolutions.com/wp-

content/uploads/2004_Writing_in_Math.pdf.

https://marilynburnsmath.com/about-marilyn-burns/
 About The Author
Marilyn Burns
https://marilynburnsmath.com/about-marilyn-burns/

Curriculum development for math Creator of professional Award recipient from the National
educators and administrators development resources for pre- Council of Supervisors of
service/in service teachers Mathematics
*Endorsed by NCTM