Discusses four ways to incorporate writing into math and science instruction: content journals, written conversations, letter writing, and informal reports. Includes a chart describing 20 additional kinds of writing that might be incorporated into science and math learning, including directions, advertisements, biographies, lists of facts,…

Discusses six reasons why assigning students to put math into words and sentences will benefit teachers and students, noting how such writing improves students' skills in math, critical thinking, and composition. (HTH)

Presents suggestions to help elementary school teachers incorporate journal writing in math class, discussing a math journal's many uses (problem solving, process prompts, language experience, and class discussion) and explaining how to respond to what students write in their journals. A sidebar explains how to create a system for storing…

This 20-minute videotape is designed to help parents understand why mathematics teaching has changed, how it will benefit children, and what they (parents) can do to help. The tape shows adult recollections of their experiences in mathematics classrooms, elementary mathematics classroom vignettes, and adult workers who use mathematics in their…

Argues that students need to be able to solve daily problems, set goals, and identify strategies for themselves. Suggests two methods for teaching these skills while reinforcing and incorporating the crucial processes of writing and language skills into learning mathematics: A Problem of the Week and Thinking Journals. (RAE)

Using story-writing to teach math gives students a chance to play with mathematical processes in a low-pressure way. By encouraging students to apply math concepts within a narrative, teachers can see how well students understand the concepts. The article presents five story-making activities to enhance mathematics skills. (SM)

Presents mathematics activities that give students in grades three through six practice in writing and problem solving by using the setting of a zoo or animal park. Includes reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

This study examined how urban fourth graders interpreted curriculum events, especially those involving mathematics, investigating everyday representations of mathematical concepts, subject matter learning, knowledge production processes, and event structured knowledge. Students' writings about school and math events indicated that curriculum was…

Writing during math supports students' learning as they clarify their ideas and highlight what they understand. This article presents math and writing strategies, answers to common questions, various math writing assignments, and math activities that lead to writing. (SM)

Presents a three-phase process that connects writing and cooperative problem solving to each other and to mathematical skills and concepts. The three phases are: (1) writing to communicate mathematics; (2) cooperative learning; and (3) problem solving. Provides examples illustrating each phase. (MDH)

Describes "Write Now," a writing-to-learn math and science program promoting academic gains and student involvement. Describes how students begin class by writing an answer to an open-ended question dealing with the previous lesson, noting that monitoring oral and written responses allows for evaluation of understanding. Lists criteria…

Elementary across-the-curriculum ideas include hands-on science activities that investigate animal survival, civics education via bicycle safety instruction, writing skills development by illumination, and math instruction by reading a story then solving problems. An end-of-the-year theme unit has students read poems then play related games. (SM)

Presents several across-the-curriculum activities for elementary teachers. Math activities include reading a book and dividing with beans. Science activities teach about caves and about the weather. A writing activity explains how to inspire students to write good stories. An art activity focuses on Chinese landscapes. (SM)

Presents geometry activities for the K-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 levels that involve the students in cutting-and-rearranging figures and discussing, describing, and writing about the activities with language they already possess. Provides appropriate worksheets for the activities. (MDH)

Presents an alternative to traditional story-problem instruction in which students write their own mathematics stories about familiar situations involving problems that can be resolved with the aid of mathematics. Provides excerpts from a typical class discussion to resolve the problem. (16 references) (MDH)