Reading and Writing and Math - Oh My! Reading and Writing Best Practices for Mathematics Teachers

Abstract

According to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 2010), students who have reading, writing, and listening support reap dual benefits in that they can communicate to learn mathematics and they learn to communicate mathematically. This article presents a description of a professional development workshop designed specifically for middle grades (grades 4-8) mathematics teachers to learn best practices for literacy instruction. Thus the purpose was three-fold; that is, to (1) provide professional development in reading and writing using research-based strategies to support student mathematical learning, (2) examine the perceptions of middle grades mathematics classroom teachers regarding the NCTM principle, and (3) determine the impact, or lack thereof, of the provided professional development in the teachers' classrooms.