Improving Mathematics Achievement by Integrating English Language Arts into Mathematics

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Improving Mathematics Achievement by Integrating
English Language Arts into Mathematics

• Dianne McCarthy
• Buffalo State College
• Marion Chambers
• Lovejoy Discovery 43

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Research on Integrating Literature into
Mathematics Grades K-3

• According to Marilyn Burns (2005)books, spark
  students imaginations in ways that exercises in
  textbooks or workbooks do not.
  
• According to research conducted by Kolstad,
  Briggs Whalen (1996) childrens books are good
  starting places for exploration and investigation.

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Our integration of Literature

• Lovejoy Discovery school uses the Investigations
  math series.
  
• We researched what childrens books were
  suggested in the upcoming units for grades K-3.
  
• We obtained those books.
• Worked with the teachers to integrate literature
  in math lessons. Marion modeled.
  
• Junior Participants from Buffalo State College
  integrated literature into their lessons as a
  model.

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Sample Literature Lesson

• See hand out for list of childrens books useful
  for teaching mathematics and mentioned in the
  Investigations materials.

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Research on Integrating Writing into Mathematics

• OConnell, Beasmon, Beyea, Denvir, Dowdall,
  Friedland, and Ward (2005) found that writing
  helped students refine their thoughts, develop
  understanding, and encouraged students to think
  about mathematics.

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Our integration of writing into mathematics
Grades 4-6

• Created journals that incorporate a graphic
  organizer (4 Square) and a space for writing a
  paragraph.
  
• Identified questions and topics based on those
  found in Investigations and Connected
  Mathematics.
  
• Teachers were given a copy of the Four Square
  Writing Method by Gould and Gould.
  
• Teachers incorporated the use of journals during
  one unit of mathematics.
  
• Junior Participants from Buffalo State used the
  four square and writing in the closures of their
  lessons.

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Sample Lesson

• A meter is part of the metric system. An example
  of an object meters would measure is the front of
  the school. It took about 100 meters to measure
  the front of the school.

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Sample Lesson

• An ounce is part of the US Standard Measurement.
  You can use ounces to measure weight. Some
  examples of objects measured in ounces are the
  following sugar, flour, salt and pepper. Put 6
  ounces of sugar with the flour to make a cake.

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Positive Outcomes

• We completed this after the New York State
  Assessments, so we do not have test score data,
  but we believe that this will improve student
  performance on the tests.
• We also surveyed the participating teacher to
  determine if they observed positive outcomes in
  their classrooms and if they would use literature
  and writing in their math programs in the future.

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Teacher Comments

• The books provided problems that sparked the
  childrens interest.
  
• The students were motivated by the books to solve
  word problems.
  
• We observed the students making connections among
  the literature, the pictures and numbers.
  
• It helped the children build a better
  understanding of mathematics.
  

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Conclusions

• The teachers at Lovejoy Discovery are continuing
  to use Literature and Writing in their math
  lessons.
  
• The junior participants from Buffalo State
  College are also encouraged to use the 4 square
  graphic organizer and writing in the closures of
  their lessons and to use literature in their
  lessons whenever possible.