Using Writing Activities to Reinforce Mathematics Instruction

Abstract

The traditional view has been that students learn to write in English classes and to compute in mathematics classes and “never the twain shall meet.” Certainly little thought has been given to the idea that teachers of various subject areas, especially mathematics, should seek to have students engage in writing activities as part of their study of that area. In recent years, however, this position has been changing, and different authors have recommended increased writing about mathematics by students as a useful and valuable aspect of mathematics instruction (Burton 1985; Greenius 1983; Johnson 1983; Shaw 1983; Watson 1980).