MISSION OBJECTIVE:

Do at least 2 read-alouds during your math time.

MISSION BRIEF:

PREP TIME REQUIRED:  < 1 hour                          EST. TIMEFRAME: over the course of two weeks

In this mission we will be focusing on engaging more students in mathematics by incorporating the use of picture books during math time.

At the end of this month you will have used 2 different picture books with students and have a list of books you can use throughout the year for various math concepts.  Plus you will understand the 4 different times you could use picture books in your classroom.

There are lots of reasons why you should include the reading of picture books during math time, but I want to just share two with you.

#1: Read-alouds give your classroom of students a ‘shared experience’ that you can then use as a springboard for more math activities.  I loved using Cathy Fosnot’s big books that come as part of her Contexts for Learning Mathematics series because it exposed the kids to things they would maybe not experience.  For example, I got the idea of using a bunk bed as the visual for a two-string rekenrek from Cathy’s books.  But not all students have bunk beds or have even seen bunk beds.  So reading her story, The SleepOver, gave all students a visual of the kids on the bunk beds plus it allowed me to continue to use the idea of kids on the bunk beds as we talked about the beads on the top and bottom of the rekenrek.  Without the visual of that picture book, the idea of using the beads on the rekenrek to represent kids on a bunk bed is very abstract (especially for the kiddos who have no experience with bunk beds).  

#2: Read-alouds help deepen students’ appreciation of mathematics as it helps them see math beyond the textbook or worksheet page and even the manipulatives we use… it helps them see math in real life. Even if your students don’t have full on math anxiety, there are lots of kids for who math is not a good experience for them yet reading is. So combining those together helps get more of your students engaged. 

If you are a math coach, you probably have some teachers you work with who don’t like math and may even have math anxiety. Encouraging them to use read alouds allows you to bring in something they are comfortable with to help them with something they aren’t as comfortable with. 

Download the Mission Dossier to get lists of math picture books and learn about the 4 times during math class that you can use picture books.

Find 2 times during this month to incorporate a picture book in your math time and then submit your results using the button at the top of this page. 

Don’t forget, this mission will self-destruct on December 31st at 10pm Pacific, so be sure to complete your mission and submit your results before then.

MISSION RESOURCES: