Abstract
In this chapter, the authors situate mathematical writing within the context of discourse, define mathematical writing, describe the classroom environment that fosters mathematical writing, and share experiences engaging elementary students in mathematical writing. At their core, the types of mathematical writing are defined by the purposes for which students write in the mathematics classroom. The authors further describe the types of mathematical writing teachers prompt and are nurtured by the classroom environment. The insights shared draw from the authors' previous and current research endeavors, advancements in curriculum development, collaborations with mathematics coaches, and experiences teaching elementary students and supporting preservice and inservice teachers. They end the chapter by highlighting some directions for future research to expand our understanding of this crucial area in mathematics education.
TopBroadening Notions Of Discourse
Educators may readily agree with the notion that “discourse practices warrant the attention of mathematics educators because discourse is the primary medium of education” (Wagner, Herbel-Eisenmann & Choppin, 2012, p. 1) if they envisage speaking mathematically. Researchers have long documented the benefits of such talk on student’s learning of mathematics (cf., Cobb et al., 1997; Kazemi & Stipek, 2001; Stein et al., 1996; Wood et al., 2006). Subsequently, teachers have been able to capitalize on this research base by drawing from quality instructional resources (cf., Chapin et al., 2009; Kazemi & Hintz, 2014; Kersaint, 2015; Smith & Stein, 2011) to benefit their students.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Informative Writing: A type of mathematical writing to describe or explain and the same as explanatory writing.
Exploratory Writing: A type of mathematical writing for the author to make sense of the problem and figure out a possible solution(s).
Mathematically Creative Writing: A type of mathematical writing that captures mathematical thinking beyond what has been taught.
Reasoning: Engagement in the process of determining a mathematical solution that is foundational to the mathematical writing experience.
Argumentative Writing: A type of mathematical writing to present one’s own position or critique one or more solutions backed with evidence.
Explanatory Writing: A type of mathematical writing to describe or explain and the same as informative writing.