Authentic Opportunities for Writing about Math in Middle School: Prompts and Examples for Building Understanding

Teach students to write about math so they can improve their conceptual understanding in authentic ways. This resource offers hands-on strategies you can use to help students in grades 6-8 discuss and articulate mathematical ideas, use correct vocabulary, and compose mathematical arguments.

Part One discusses the importance of emphasizing language to make students’ thinking visible and to sharpen communication skills, while attending to precision. Part Two provides a plethora of writing prompts and activities: Visual Prompts; Compare and Contrast; The Answer Is; Topical Questions; Writing About; Journal Prompts; Poetry; Cubing and Thinking Dots; RAFT; Question Quilts; and Always, Sometimes, Never. Each activity is accompanied by a clear overview plus a variety of examples. Part Three offers a crosswalk of writing strategies and math topics to help you plan, as well as a sample anchor task and lesson plan to demonstrate how the strategies can be integrated.

Throughout each section, you’ll also find Blackline Masters that can be downloaded for classroom use. With this book’s engaging, standards-based activities, you’ll have your middle school students communicating like fluent mathematicians in no time!

Tammy L. Jones has taught students from 1st grade through college. Currently, she is consulting with individual school districts in training mathematics teachers on effective techniques for being successful in the mathematics classroom, supporting mathematics instruction, and STEM integrations. She is co-author of two book series published with Routledge, Strategies for Common Core Mathematics and Strategic Journeys for Building Logical Reasoning.

Leslie A. Texas has over twenty years of experience working with K-12 teachers and schools across the country to enhance rigorous and relevant instruction. She believes that improving student outcomes depends on comprehensive approaches to teaching and learning. She is co-author of two book series published with Routledge, Strategies for Common Core Mathematics and Strategic Journeys for Building Logical Reasoning.