Integrating Language Arts and Math
Here are simple ideas to integrate math and language arts skills.
By Dawn Dodson
Subject integration is an effective way to tap into students' skills and abilities, and increase their engagement by making use of many different learning styles. More specifically, the integration of math and language arts easily lends itself to the use and application of multiple learning and thinking strategies. Techniques to integrate math into language arts class, and vice versa, can involve anything from simple class routines to more complex class projects. The following are two ideas that can add a little inspiration, and help weave the worlds of the left and right-brained thinker.
How to Use Journals in Math
Using learning journals is perhaps the easiest way to integrate two different content areas. There are various formats for journals, but the main idea is to have a place in which students can write or log their learning. In math class, this can be a place in which students practice writing instructions on how to solve various problems and ask questions about confusing material. Standardized test questions often require students to explain how they arrived at the correct answer, and why their particular solution is correct. This is an effective way to have students practice in preparation for assessments, both formative and summative.
In the past, I have assigned journal prompts and required students to compose story problems, as well as a formal writing assignment. As a class, we’ve reviewed components of a well-written story problem, identified author’s purpose and audience, and composed both whole class and individual problems. After revision and editing time, students complete final drafts and then exchange with a peer and solve. The solved, final draft is then assessed.
Read Aloud Picture Books
Another way to integrate math and language arts content is using picture books. There are a variety of picture books available that include both quality literary elements and involve math concepts. The benefit of using picture books in a math setting is that stories depict math concepts (for example: counting, addition, subtraction, and even geometry) in a visual manner that allows students to develop their understanding as the story progresses.
A great example is the book Pancakes, Crackers, and Pizza by Marjorie Eberts, which can help students learn to recognize shapes and graphing. Chris Van Allsburg has written many books covering a variety of math and language concepts that can be used in middle and high school settings. My favorite Allsburg book is The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. It is a treasure trove of problem solving and critical thinking concepts, and has a stellar storyline. It has the potential to inspire a geometry and language project in which students use both illustrations and story development to explain geometric concepts. I have used this book to discuss shapes and angles, and as a characterization review. Using the book, students apply their writing skills and knowledge of literary elements to solve and create math problems, and identify the book’s problem and solution.
Through reading and sharing picture books and recording learning in journals to cement math skills, teachers can connect the math and language arts curriculum. Using these weekly, or even daily routines, students can continue to develop both content skills. What follows are more ways to integrate math and language arts.
More Lesson Ideas:
This lesson integrates math and language arts skills by having students research, create, and write about budgets based on a given salary. Many different real-life skills are utilized in this lesson.
Middle Ages Cross Curriculum Project
This project includes all core content areas. Students are required to complete several projects throughout the study that focus on skills in each subject area. It is a ready-made plan for integrating subjects.
This is a simple math lesson using popcorn. It could be easily modified to teach multiple math concepts, and could include a writing portion requiring students to summarize their learning.
This is an enjoyable lesson in which students demonstrate skills in all subjects. From creating a travel brochure to a vacation budget, students creatively combine content knowledge to reach the ultimate goal of learning more about Hawaii.
