The Write Angle for Teaching Math: Why Write in Math Class?

Published by patrick honner on

Math WritingFinding ways to get students to write about mathematics has played a pivotal role in my development and growth as a math teacher.  Mathematical writing challenges students to express their ideas clearly and efficiently; it forces students to stop thinking of mathematics as merely equations and answers; and it opens up a new and unexpected dialogue between math teacher and student.

I have always found great value and pleasure in writing.  It is a valuable skill, a necessary tool of scholarship, and a powerful creative outlet.  And now I see its value as a math teacher.  The more my students write, the more useful and interesting we all find it.

In this post, I’ll first address the question “Why Write in Math Class?”.

Why Write in Math Class?

There are infinitely many good reasons to write.  I’ll offer three that have been on my mind lately.

1)  Writing is a fundamental mathematical skill

Many people might not be aware of it, and many might not admit it, but good writing is a fundamental mathematical skill.  A proof isn’t a proof unless others understand it, and that can’t happen if it isn’t written clearly and concisely.  Also, it’s great when we find the right answer in a math problem, but as most teachers know, it’s usually more important to understand the problem-solving process than to get the right answer.  Good writing skills help narrate and record that process, and make that process available for teachers and peers to understand.

2)  Writing is an indispensible professional skill

I’ve had many different jobs in my life, and being a good writer made me more effective at all of them.  Whether designing technology systems, meeting with clients or consultants, talking through project specifications, or working on a team, being able to document and communicate effectively about the process gave me an edge.   Writing about mathematical ideas and procedures can be hard, but it’s great training for thinking and communicating about the kinds of open-ended problems students will face in the real world.

3)  Writing helps me understand my students better

By regularly interacting with my students through writing, I get to know them in a significantly different way than through their work on exams and homework.  Through various writing activities, I can develop a better sense of what kinds of math problems they like, what kinds of problem-solving techniques they are most comfortable with, and of course, what kinds of ideas are difficult for them to consume.  Getting a different look at how my students think mathematically is incredibly valuable as a teacher, and it can be extremely fun, too!  Giving students the chance to think and write creatively about math almost always produces something unexpectedly wonderful!

For more resources, see my Writing in Math Class page.


patrick honner

Math teacher in Brooklyn, New York

4 Comments

Sarah Miller · February 20, 2013 at 5:56 pm

Thank you for writing this, and I hope you don’t mind if I share it at this week’s literacy team meeting.

bravo!

Alexander Gibson · October 19, 2017 at 12:36 pm

This is great! I am feeling the same way about writing in my Geometry class, ever since a great PD in writing in the Math Class by an instructor from close by our little city. I’m trying to incorporate it more into my Calculus course I teach. Thanks for the great reflections.

Judy Hante · January 24, 2018 at 2:33 pm

I agree completely with your points on writing in math. I teach college statistics and place a lot of emphasis on getting students to write in clear sentences the conclusions they have reached from the mathematical analysis. No reason why students in more theoretical courses could not explain what is going on with a math problem in full sentences. They will always need that skill in the real world. I spent most of my career working with engineers who could not string sentences together.

Laura · June 22, 2020 at 11:38 am

This is amazing and something I really never thought of before as a math teacher. Thank you so much fro the inspiration! 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: