An Idea...Literacy in Math

My thoughts on Literacy are quite clear.  As I've alluded in a previous post, It is my opinion that literacy is like a key that opens all future doors to success.  And the younger a student is exposed to reading and writing the better.  Even if literacy is being learned in the later grades it still isn't impossible.  Those students just need to work harder and be provided more opportunities.  

I've been struggling with how to include reading and writing opportunities in my chosen profession of math teacher.  But I have an idea...

In my Introduction to the Foundations of Geometry class at UNCG I was assigned a presentation.  We were charged with reading a technical document about a math concept and create a presentation about it.  The PowerPoint presentation is below.

This project easily brought literacy into the math classroom.  Ironically, I did my project on a document about math in literature.  I can see how this assignment can be altered to provide a good opportunity in the classroom.  Find a list of age appropriate math papers or books.  Working in groups or individually, have the students choose one and read it.  Create a presentation on the item and present the topic to the classroom.  This project would provide opportunities for reading, writing, speaking and listening thus providing an excellent chance to practice literacy in a math classroom.

Literacy in the Gerringer House

Of Literacy:
Literacy is the ability to read and write.  Its not quite as simple as that but the definition is the basis of what literacy is.  Being literate is important to every child as it provides building blocks for future learning.  It is the key that opens the doors to success in the future.  In the Gerringer household we have always stressed reading and writing to our children.  And it must have been a lesson learned as we now have some veracious readers ready to devour what the world has to offer.


Of Reading:
In our house reading has been a very welcome activity.  As infants each of my children had subscriptions to the book of the month club. My wife belongs to a book club where she reads a selected book and then meets with friends once a month to talk about what they thought about the book.  I spend most of my hours at school and work but that doesn't keep me from books.  I subscribe to Audible and am currently listening to book 8 of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books.  We have subscriptions to many magazines that give us countless hours of reading.  The Gerringer's love for reading is obvious.

We are always on the lookout for good books either for us or the kids.  We keep an eye on the NY Times Best Sellers list.  I even listen to the Sword & Laser podcast to get reviews and interviews from the latest science fiction writers.

It's needless to say we are a reading family.

Of Writing:
Unfortunately since the world has gone electronic, our writing has been reduced to 140 characters on Twitter or short feeling blurbs on Facebook.  Even our thank you, birthday and holiday cards have dwindled down to birthday cards to immediate family only.  I do occasionally write to my blog, but on the whole, writing in the Gerringer family is starting to be less and less.

One activity that hasn't changed the pace of writing is in Education.  I'm, of course, still in school and write frequently.  My daughter is headed off to ECU to start her college career where she will be writing frequently.    My wife writes many notes during the day at her work as an Occupational Therapist.  So, writing has not completely disappeared in our lives, it's just reduced in the house.

Literature in Math Class

6th Edition Cover

The name of the book is "Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions."  I never knew there was a math themed book until we were assigned it in 8th grade AP Mathematics.  First published in 1884 by Edwin Abbott Abbott (1838-1926), Flatland was originally written as a social satire about the Victorian culture of the time.  And I was supposed to read it and write a report on it...and in a math class no less.

Even though it was meant as a satire of a culture who attempt to assign everyone into a status or position in life, it is most known today as a study about geometric dimensions and shapes.  The characters are geometric shapes trying to move around in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th dimensions.  They come upon rules that prevent or hinder them from changing dimensions, such as a cube not being able to live in two dimensions.

Despite my trepidation I read the story and wrote my report.  I made an A and remember enjoying the story even today.

This is the type of book that I would assign my future Geometry class.  I would work with an English teacher to make sure all the common core requirements are covered.  It would be a thorough application of using literature in a math class.    

"An Unexpected Journey"

My kids love "The Hobbit" movie.  They each have read the Hobbit book multiple times in their lives.  It is safe to say we are a Hobbit family.  I have the book in paperback, hardback, leather bound, graphic novel, and comic.  Yes, I love the story.  It is truly my most favorite book of all time.

"The Hobbit" or "There and Back Again" is a book by J. R. R. Tolkein (1892-1973).  It was published in 1937 and written as a children's fantasy.  While I doubt he knew it would become the classic it is, today it is loved by millions.  It is a story about Bilbo Baggins (a Hobbit) who goes on an adventure against his wishes.  The adventure takes him to the Lonely Mountain to battle Smaug the dragon for gold and fame.  Along the way he meets trolls, goblins and many other fantastic creatures.  It is a delightful tale of a reluctant Hobbit's journey as he grows from complacent to heroic.

Cover of the first edition.

I've always loved dragons and fantasy books.  I first read "The Hobbit" in Junior High School.  (Junior High back then was what we called Middle School.)  It was my first introduction to epic fantasy and I was hooked.  While I can't tell you exactly how many times I've read "The Hobbit" but I can tell you that it had me wanting more and more fantasy.  Ever since that book I have always sought out fantasy in books, movies, games, etc.  I believe this book is what kept me reading stories in school.

I can see where this book was a pivotal point in keeping me reading.  It combined good story with my love of fantasy.  As I become a teacher and work with students I can see where finding the subject they love and encouraging them to read about the subject could just entice them to love reading.

I'm still a little apprehensive how a math teacher can integrate reading in the classroom.  But I know I have more to learn as a teacher in general so I'm still looking for ways to integrate literacy.  Other than working with other team members and just general encouragement to read... well, I'm still looking for ways.

The Missing Words

In 1975 I was in 3rd Grade.  Yeah, I'm an old guy.  I've never had problems with the 3 R's:  reading, writing and 'rythmatic.  There's not much I can remember from my childhood.  One thing I do remember is a favorite picture book.  I remember loving that book.  I also remember thinking it was missing those wonderful words that I was learning in school.  It was a picture book after all.  I decided to fix that and wrote a story to go along with the pictures.

It must have been good because my teacher Ms. McIver (I do remember her name) submitted it to a literary contest.  And I won although I really didn't understand what the big deal was at the time.  All I know is everyone was proud.  They wanted to display my story in the library so I copied, by hand, the pictures the best I could.  My handmade book was displayed in the library of General Green Elementary school for many years and my story was reprinted in a green book along with other winners of the contest.  I knew it was important because the book of winners was kept in my parents bedroom for years and years.

While I'm sure I didn't realize it at the time, the celebrations and pride that others had in my work must have had positive repercussions.  I probably didn't realize it (I was in 3rd grade for goodness sakes) but a very important lesson was taught to me in 1975.  Work hard, think creatively, and write creatively and good things would come.  A very valuable lesson that has carried me through life and will also be present in my classroom.  Celebrate the successes, learn from failures but definitely celebrate the successes.

You are probably wondering where that book is today.  I asked my dad to find the "green winner book" but its missing.  I tried looking for the picture book online and can't find it.  I know its a picture book and a boy blew a bubble.  Being a picture book in 1975 could mean it has gone out of print.  It makes me sad that I may never be able to see that book again.  But I still have the memory and the lesson.