Children's counting books offer an obvious connection to math, but many other picture books incorporate math themes, such as counting, adding, subtracting, shapes and patterning. Reading a book with a theme related to your math curriculum helps introduce or review the concept. In "Quack and Count," author Keith Baker weaves in addition and grouping concepts by making different groups with seven ducks. A primary teacher might use this book while introducing addition to the class. You can reinforce the math concepts by stopping to discuss the ideas as you read. In the "Quack and Count" example, you might write the different combinations that equal seven on the board as you read. For a follow-up activity, give the children a different number of blocks and have them record how many different combinations they create.
Dramatic play activities in primary classrooms allow you to integrate math and literacy concepts. When planning your dramatic play center, consider the math concepts you're teaching in class. A pretend play scenario that reinforces those ideas gives the students practical applications of the ideas. When teaching about money, a store or restaurant gives the students practice. Integrate literacy with menus that have both words and prices or signs that list the store offerings and prices. A kitchen play area incorporates fractions and measurements with literacy. Recipe cards require students to read both words and measurements. Measuring cups allow children to play with measurements and fractions.
A math journal incorporates writing while helping the students fully understand the math concepts they're learning. Math journals are flexible in how they are used, but one method suggested by Reading Rockets is to start class with a writing prompt related to math. You might say, "What have we learned about the perimeter and area of triangles?" The students are able to clarify their understanding while you see where they need more help. The math journal also serves as a reference as you add more complexity to the math topics you teach. For example, a student who is struggling with long division can look back to previous division entries with smaller numbers. When working with fractions, an earlier entry with diagrams of fractions may help with reducing or adding fractions.
Story problems are nothing new in the math world. Students strengthen their literacy skills by reading the problems on the page, but you can go a step further by having students develop their own problems. Let them swap papers to solve another student's story problem. You can also write more involved stories related to real-world situations that incorporate a math problem. You might write a story about a child who's mom sends him to the store with a grocery list and a certain amount of money. On the way to the store, he faces temptations, such as an arcade where he might spend some of the money. Get the children involved by writing class stories that weave math throughout the plot.