Math Literacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Math Literacy - Essay Example Literacy is a highly complex notion. Traditionally literacy has referred to a comprehension of language elements. Increasingly, however, literacy has come to refer to an understanding and proficiency with an endless array of subjects. For instance, today there is media literacy, mathematics literacy, and science literacy. A number of researchers and agencies have proposed spectrums of literacy. In this way the National Institute for Literacy indicates that major aspects of literacy include, â€Å"decoding/phonemic awareness and phonics, morphology, vocabulary, fluency, and text comprehension† (National Institute of Literacy 2007, p. 3). For the purpose of this research literacy is considered in terms of language fluency. There are a number of aspects of literacy that exist in my subject area of mathematics. Perhaps the most overarching consideration is the notion of content literacy. Conley refers to content literacy as students’ comprehension of specific reading and fl uency knowledge that contributes to their understanding of the specific subject (Conley 2008). As my subject is mathematics there are a variety of ways that content literacy is important. In a sense, students’ actual fluency with solving mathematic problems can be regarded as a sort of literacy. Still, specific language fluency in terms of phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and text comprehension is required in much math content. ... that, â€Å"Mathematical literacy is attained only when students can decipher the numbers, apply abstract symbols, and use words to construct mathematical meaning.† This is a more comprehensive recognition of literacy as encompassing numbers as forms of literate expression. There are a variety of ways that literacy within mathematics exists. In solving math equations one recognizes that, â€Å"Although understanding the mathematics involved†¦is certainly essential, being able to read, understand, and respond in writing to the item in specialized ways is also crucial. Content area literacy involves showing students how to adjust their reading and writing to the specific demands of different kinds of knowledge and tasks† (Conley 2008, p. 22). In this way literacy within mathematics occurs in particular situations that aid the solving of mathematics equations. For instance, mathematics often has terminology such as box plot, quartile 1 and interquartile, or minimum an d maximum. Students must recognize these concepts in order to advance to the problem-solving portion of the mathematics. One considers that in science students more thoroughly focus on words and patterns. In the language arts students must develop thorough reading comprehension skills. The notable recognition in these regards is that literacy in mathematics, as contrasted with most other subject areas, functions to aid the direct comprehension of the subject rather than being the subject itself. Other theorists have additionally considered that oftentimes literacy in mathematics, in terms of specific vocabulary, oftentimes takes on a different meaning than in outside contexts. For instance, it’s noted that the word ‘functions’ takes on a different meaning in terms of math than in other contexts (Franz