ABSTRACT

What meanings do your students have for key mathematics concepts? What meanings do you wish them to have? Creating a Language-Rich Math Class offers practical approaches for developing conceptual understandings by connecting concrete, pictorial, verbal, and symbolic representations. The focus is on making mathematics memorable instead of on memorizing.

You’ll learn strategies for introducing students to math language that gives meaning to the terms and symbols they use every day; for building flexibility and precision in students’ use of math language; and for structuring activities to make them more language-rich. This second edition also provides strategies for helping students to at times be quiet and listen to their peers; for purposefully using language to introduce students to more complex mathematical symbolism and algebraic properties; and for using writing prompts to zoom in on the meanings that individual students have given to the language-rich experiences.

Appropriate for elementary teachers and instructional coaches, the book also includes features such as Investigations to Try and Questions for Reflection to help you incorporate these ideas into your practice. In addition, there are Blackline masters of game cards and puzzles, which can also be found on our website for free download at https://www.routledge.com/9780367759957.

chapter 1|6 pages

What Are They Really Thinking?

Determining the Meaning Kids Have for Terms

chapter 5|4 pages

The Power of the Forced Mute

chapter 6|21 pages

Purposefully Choose and Use Materials

chapter 8|10 pages

Changing the Order for Introducing Mathematical Language

Experience Then Name

chapter 12|13 pages

Making Sense of Word Problems

Developing Independent Problem Solvers

chapter |3 pages

Conclusion

Give Students the Gift of Time