Math and Literacy Meet at the Corner of

Making Meaning and Learning Deeply

COMPLEX TEXT IN THE

MATHEMATICS CLASSROOM

Math Practice StandardsCOMMON CORE

RELATIONSHIPS Literacy Standards

DO MATH STANDARDS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH LITERACY?

1. What do you notice?2. What surprises you the most?3. What surprises you the least?4. How does literacy impact the teaching of mathematics at your school?

“According to contextual learning theory, learning occurs only when students (learners) process new information or knowledge in such a way that it makes sense to them in their own frames of reference (their own inner worlds of memory experience, and response). This approach to learning and teaching assumes that the mind naturally seeks meaning in context—that is, in relation to the person’s current environment—and that it does so by searching for relationships that make sense and appear useful.”

(Teaching Mathematics Contextual ly, ©1999, Cord)

CONTEXTUAL LESSONS

Are new concepts presented in real-life (outside the classroom) situations and experiences that are familiar to the student?

Are concepts in examples and student exercises presented in the context of their use?

IS A LESSON CONTEXTUAL?

(Teaching Mathematics Contextually, ©1999, Cord)

Are new concepts presented in the context of what the student already knows?

Do examples and student exercises include many real, believable problem-solving situations that students can recognize as being important to their current or possible future lives?

IS A LESSON CONTEXTUAL?

(Teaching Mathematics Contextually, ©1999, Cord)

Do examples and student exercises cultivate an attitude that says, “I need to learn this”?

Do students gather and analyze their own data as they are guided in discovery of the important concepts?

IS A LESSON CONTEXTUAL?

(Teaching Mathematics Contextually, ©1999, Cord)

Are opportunities presented for students to gather and analyze their own data for enrichment and extension?

Do lessons and activities encourage the student to apply concepts and information in useful contexts, projecting the student into imagined futures (e.g., possible careers) and unfamiliar locations (e.g., workplaces)?

IS A LESSON CONTEXTUAL?

(Teaching Mathematics Contextually, ©1999, Cord)

Are students expected to participate regularly in interactive groups where sharing, communicating, and responding to the important concepts and decision making occur?

IS A LESSON CONTEXTUAL?

(Teaching Mathematics Contextually, ©1999, Cord)

Do lessons, exercises, and labs improve students’ reading and other communication skills in addition to mathematical reasoning and achievement?

IS A LESSON CONTEXTUAL?

(Teaching Mathematics Contextually, ©1999, Cord)

Using Complex Text

MATH IN CONTEXT

Math in Context

USING COMPLEX TEXT IN MATH

Set the Stage

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/educate/mathtoday/reg_activities/taxes.pdf

DIRECTIONS

Individual Learning: 1. Go to http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/educate/mathtoday/reg_activities/taxes.pdf

2. Read the article.

3. As you read, mark your responses on the reading guide

Peer Learning/Discourse:

1. Compare

2. Evidence

3. Rationale

API Discourse

1. Text Complexity?

2. Type of Scaffold?

3. Value for Math Context?

Analyzing Data

In your table groups, use the sources in your packet as you discuss and solve Questions 1-3.

As you discuss, take turns explaining the process for finding the data AND the rationale behind your thinking.

Do you have a part-time job?

Do you pay state and federal income taxes on your wages?

Do you pay sales taxes?

Are your taxes normal?

ARE TAXES NORMAL?

How does this task require skills for reading complex text?

Analyzing Data

In your table groups, use the results from your analysis of data to solve Question 8.

Conjecture Compare Check results

with conjecture Explain process Explain reasoning Write a

paragraph response

Question 8

How did the median and mean for the top five states compare to the median and mean for all states?

ARE TAXES NORMAL?

How does this task use Reading and Speaking & Listening Standards?

Analyzing Data

In your table groups, use the results from your analysis of data to solve Question 8.

Conjecture Compare Check results

with conjecture Explain process Explain reasoning Write a

paragraph response

Question 8

How did the median and mean for the top five states compare to the median and mean for all states?

ARE TAXES NORMAL?

Which Math Practices Standards does this task help train students to master?

Analyzing Data

In your table groups, use the results from your analysis of data to solve Question 8.

Conjecture Compare Check results

with conjecture Explain process Explain reasoning Write a

paragraph response

ARE TAXES NORMAL?

Math Practices

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

4. Model with mathematics.5. Use appropriate tools

strategically.6. Attend to precision.7. Look for and make use of

structure.8. Look for and express

regularity in repeated reasoning.

Question 8How did the median and mean for the top five states compare to the median and mean for all states?

ARE TAXES NORMAL?

How does this response reveal the level of a student’s understanding of math?

Answer 1

The mean and median for the top five states were higher.

ARE TAXES NORMAL?

How does this task fulfill CCSS Math Content, Math Practice, AND Literacy standards?

Answer 2

In 2001, the mean and median for the top five states were significantly higher than those statistics for all the states. After calculation, the mean of the top 5 states was $2822, while the mean of all 50 states was $1950.94. Likewise, the median of the top 5 states was $ 2731 and of all 50 states was $1844.50. Given these data points, it is likely that the people of the top 5 states enjoy a more robust economy and higher standard of living than in other states.

How does this response reveal the level of a student’s understanding of math?

Question 11Do you think the actual tax data show a normal distributions? Why or Why not?

ARE TAXES NORMAL?

What roles do choices of evidence, examples, and counter-examples play in revealing a student’s deep understanding of math?

What kind of writing and thinking does this task require?

What ELA Literacy skills overlap with the skills needed to demonstrate deep learning in math, such as in this sample?

ARE TAXES NORMAL?

Extending Learning

How can this lesson be extended to include the thinking skills in Level 4 DOK?

FULL IMPLEMENTATION

Every Classroom, Every Week

Schoolwide Instructional Culture

PLT Lesson Design

PLT Response Rubrics

Peer Observation and Coaching

Evaluator Support for NCEES Standards for Literacy, Differentiation, and Content Knowledge