Linking Literacy and Mathematics: The Support for Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice
Author: Swanson, Mary
Date: 2013-02-11
Type: Opinion Papers
Subjects: State Standards,Literacy,Mathematics Instruction,State Policy,Educational Policy,Core Curriculum,Childrens Literature,Educational Resources,Interdisciplinary Approach,Mathematical Concepts,Elementary School Mathematics,Reading Materials,Literature Reviews,Multimedia Materials

In a new era of Common Core State Standards (CCSS), teachers are expected to provide more rigorous, coherent, and focused curriculum at every grade level. To respond to the call for higher expectations across the curriculum and certainly within reading, writing, and mathematics, educators should work closely together to create mathematically proficient students who actively look for relevance and purpose, think critically, and question when uncertain. Mathematics literacy experiences during the elementary school years provide a powerful opportunity to interject context students must know and deeply understand. As described by the Standards for Mathematical Practice, Common Core State Standards suggest teachers not only focus on content but also on process. Historically less attention has been given to the process than the content itself. Given the importance of these standards and the focus on process, this article proposes children's books and other literacy materials to be used by practitioners to enhance the purpose of each of the eight Standards for Mathematical Practice. These standards include:  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; and 8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. The many literacy resources included in this article have been thoughtfully selected from an extensive literature review of resources recognized for their potential to support the Standards for Mathematical Practice. As described by the CCSS framework, practitioners must provide experiences to encompass not only Standards for Mathematical Content but also Standards for Mathematical Practice. These critical eight practices provide the foundation upon which mathematics content must be accessed and embraced by students. Knowing different ways in which literacy materials can be used to support mathematics is a good starting point and having a list of classroom ready resources becomes the catalyst by which teachers of elementary students begin to address the call for higher expectations in mathematics. The instructional implications of CCSS call for teachers to challenge students to think and reason in mathematics and to communicate to others by using literacy resources. The success of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics depends more on how practitioners teach than on what they teach. Elementary school educators must become aware of more and better ways to support the process by which students embrace the mathematics they are required to know. This article is a collection of resources to be used by teachers in support of the Standards for Mathematical Practice. The bibliography lists the literacy resources.