Robin A. Ward

Using Children's Literature to Inspire K–8 Preservice Teachers' Future Mathematics Pedagogy

A growing body of research in the fields of mathematics education and literacy supports the inclusion of childrens literature with the teaching and learning of mathematics. When mathematics is couched within a story and presented using pictures and informal, familiar language, students can more readily grasp the mathematical ideas and concepts. In addition, because childrens literature often depicts real-life situations, it can serve as a catalyst for engaging students in authentic problem solving and inspire them to explore mathematical concepts actively and enthusiastically. Preservice teachers need to experience for themselves the power and potential of childrens literature as an educational tool in mathematics so that they are well prepared and motivated to teach in an engaging fashion with a focus on reading, writing, and communicating mathematically. The author presents a variety of activities and ideas implemented as part of an elementary mathematics methods course that modeled for preservice teachers pedagogically sound strategies for effectively integrating childrens literature with the teaching and learning of mathematics in primary, intermediate, and middle school classrooms.