Literacy Focus

Literacy is a focus for us at the Junior High.  I have learned that literacy is not just teaching reading and writing, but incorporating strategies to deepen student learning, understanding, and problem solving.  During teacher workshop the week before the students arrived last fall, there were several teachers that volunteered to present “literacy strategies” to staff as they rotated through stations.  I picked up a couple of ideas that I could incorporate into my math classroom.  I now do a pre-read with students at the beginning at every chapter in our math textbook.  I have students have their textbook open as we learn new sections and reference where vocabulary, theorems, examples, and important information is in the book.  There are some days that I just give an assignment and have students work in partners or groups and figure out the material on their own.  I have tried to have students really use their textbook as a resource, and not have to depend so much on asking me every time they have a question or are unsure of something.