Mathematical Literacy in the Middle and High School Grades: A Modern Approach to Sparking Student Interest - Softcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Faith H. Wallace, Ph.D., is a Professor of Literacy who specializes in bringing reading into the non-literature classroom. She is the author of a book on reading mathematics, and she has written a number of national peer-reviewed papers and presented at local, state, regional, and national conferences. A reading specialist, she has worked extensively with the University System of Georgia's Reading Consortium, helping support the diverse reading needs of Georgia's students. This has given her a wide-ranging knowledge of the professional development of reading teachers, as well as an understanding of reading in the content areas. Dr. Wallace has a particular research interest in reading in the mathematics classroom.

Mary Anna Evans is a licensed professional engineer, an experienced educator, and the award-winning author of the Faye Longchamp archaeological mysteries: Artifacts, Relics, Effigies, Findings, Floodgates, Strangers, and Plunder. Her education in physics and engineering, as well as her passion for reading and writing, has resulted in a dual career as a novelist who also writes on math and science education. When a cell phone drops from a tall tower in one of her books, yet is still functional afterward, the physics explaining why this is possible is feathered into the narrative accurately, yet so gently that the explanation reads as story, not as instruction. Math educators have recognized this attention to detail as an opportunity to bring reading materials that students enjoy, like mystery fiction, into the mathematics classroom. Ms. Evans speaks frequently on math and science literacy to both students and educators.

Von der hinteren Coverseite

What are people saying about Mathematical Literacy in the Middle and High School Grades?

Dave Barry says, “This is the most interesting book I've ever read about using literacy skills to improve students' mathematical learning. Granted, it's also the only book I've ever read on that topic. But if I ever became a teacher, I would definitely employ the theories explained in this book. Of course, if I ever became a teacher, Western Civilization would be doomed, so I'll just settle for recommending this book to the actual professionals."

- Dave Barry is a Pulitzer prize-winning humorist and author, and for 25 years he was a syndicated columnist with the Miami Herald.

Paul George says,“Educators have long known that literacy is a significant key to improving achievement in mathematics, but too little has been done about it that is directly and immediately helpful to teachers and students. This book is a long-awaited synthesis, fresh and remarkably practical. Since many thousands of middle schools, and hundreds of high schools now feature the organization of teachers and students into interdisciplinary teams, this book will make it possible for new collaborations between teachers on the same teams in ways that will not only strengthen mathematics instruction, but will facilitate teacher team collaboration in new and powerful ways. No middle or high school faculty should be without this important new resource."

- Paul S. George, Distinguished Professor of Education Emeritus, is arecipient of the National Middle School Association's Lounsbury Award for lifetime achievement in middle school education 

How do you recognize math concepts when they are hidden in a story students will find engrossing? How do you develop and use hands-on activities to reinforce those concepts?

These questions and more are answered for middle and high school teachers as they work through and use the concepts and practical ideas presented in this illuminating new text. The book begins with an overview of the theory behind new strategies for teaching mathematics, then moves on to more practical matters, providing concrete assistance to today’s busy teachers―including a variety of ready-to-use activities they can use “as is” or adapt to fit their own particular classrooms and student needs.

Drawing from the experience of two diverse authors, each with her own perspective on the topics, the book provides solutions that couldn’t be accomplished through the efforts of one person alone. Together the authors communicate the theory behind teaching many varied subjects in mathematics through using literature as a tool. By incorporating the concepts and ideas in this book, in-service teachers can develop their own integrated lesson plans or learn how to develop similar plans on their own, ultimately coming up with a plan that enhances and enlightens students’ mathematics learning by incorporating a variety of texts into the math classroom and develops students’ literacy skills.

Future and in-service teachers learn how to:

• Incorporate reading into mathematics content through a variety of well-researched approaches.
• Develop a well-rounded approach to the teaching of mathematics through the development of literacy skills.
• Save time on lesson planning with numerous high-quality, ready-to-use classroom activities that explore the relationship between mathematics and literacy.
• Use a wide variety of text in their lessons by referring to the authors’ extensive bibliographies of prescreened books and other reading material well suited for the mathematics classroom.