This I Believe

What is it that I believe about writing in the classroom? I do think that writing should be a part of every classroom, even math. But for me I think that the question is: "What is it that I believe, about writing being a part in the math classroom?" In a math classroom the only writing that is usually done is in number form. But when you really think about it; what is a number anyway? A number is really just a word in symbolic form that stands for a quantity. So math really has no reason to not have writing. I believe that there are two very important roles that math could be a part of the writing world.

My first is with formulas. A mathematics formula can be a very short or long process. However, writing the formula out in word form can help with the memorization of the steps to solve a problem. Take the slope formula as an example using the coordinates (1,2) (3,4). Now slope is just the degree at which to points are connected known as rise over run. In other words, the line will rise (or fall) so far from a point and run (move left to right) from the point. That is the long explanation of slope, but when I have the students write the words out then the numbered formula (y2-y1/x2-x1) and work it out, they have a better understanding of what the slope of the line is.

My second is with word problems. Most students think of word problems as long, boring problems that they have to read over and over to understand. But what I do is have them create and write our a word problem using several parameters, so they can see exactly how easily word problems can be solved. The students then do not see word problems as such an arduous task.

So for the statement, "This I believe", I believe that writing can be used in any discipline, it is only a matter of digging down a bit to understand where it could be the most helpful.