I do, however hope this class and others will open up the possibilities in these areas of teaching. I know that I would not teach only the minimum skills, but go beyond by linking ideas together. They have to be read correctly in order for the problems to be set up which can lead to a solution.
Students can also write their own word problems.
I will be looking on the web for more ideas for using reading and writing in mathematics. Students could also keep a science journal of ideas, questions and possible experiments. Being literate includes a greater understanding of what is read. It means that one knows how to read according to the different purposes of reading. A literate person can use writing as a way of expressing different desires or for many other purposes.