#  >> K-12 >> Elementary School

How to Integrate Math & Language Arts

Interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning have gained significant credibility in the education world since the mid-1980s. Combining subjects reveals more about each subject and enriches both. The same is true when math and language arts are integrated. Motivation to learn math increases when stories are part of the process and storytelling abilities can be challenged with math problems. Integration of math and language arts concepts encourages a more thorough understanding of both.

Things You'll Need

  • Story books
  • Chalk or white board
Show More

Instructions

  1. Integrating Math and Language Arts

    • 1
      Picture books may lend themselves to teaching math concepts.

      Choose storybooks that allow counting for kindergarten and early elementary students. You might choose books explicitly designed for counting or other books that easily lend themselves to counting.

    • 2

      Read the story aloud to the children first. On a second reading, begin guided questions, such as how many animals are there. Count together to practice the skill. Focus not just on the reading but on the illustrations as well, since these visual cues will deepen learning.

    • 3

      As children grow more comfortable with counting, look for opportunities to work in more advanced math concepts, such as simple equations and comparative vocabulary. For example, teach addition by adding together types of animals on each page or characters on one page with characters on another. Or ask questions such as, "Which is bigger, the lamb or the horse?" or "Which is smaller, the red balloon or the blue balloon?" The same can be done with other conceptual vocabulary, such as longer and shorter, older and younger or darker and lighter.

    • 4

      Write stories using your own equations. Teacher and students should do this together the first time. Soon students will be ready to write their own storybooks using their own equations or other math concepts.

    • 5

      Choose more advanced stories for more advanced students who are ready to grapple with more difficult reading material and more difficult math concepts.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved