Understanding Math Through Content Specific Reading
My students need practice using their academic language (for math) in real life situations. The Scholastic MATH magazines will help us realize this goal.
My students are a mix of low-income and middle-class kids from the Ocean Beach and Point Loma area. Many of my students are from military families and deal with either limited access to both parents or the difficulties of being here temporarily. Some are Mexican immigrants and have limited English Language skills. Others have limited reading skills and issues with the academic language skills needed in math.
I feel that many of the students at my school are struggling with exposure to age-appropriate academic literature that is accessible outside of the classroom which then feeds into the mindset of "When are we ever gonna use this?"
My Project
Many of my students are distrustful that there are many situations that require using real math because much of what they read in textbooks appears contrived and doesn't really apply to their lives. I have already used some of the articles/projects/worksheets from the sample Scholastic Math magazines I have been sent and the kids find them relevant and engaging. Since the material in Scholastic Math requires reading in the content area, I am confident that this will help students understand how to use the academic language of math in real situations, much like they would practice comprehension and use of their English language skills by reading literature. As a school, we have many ESL students and I think this extra reading material would also be very helpful for them as they progress in their speaking and writing skills.
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