Math

What are Math texts?

• Math texts can cover a wide range of subjects throughout many grade levels. Younger students can work with counting, shapes, addition, and subtraction books. As the students get older they can read books on multiplication, division, and fractions. 

Criterion for Quality and Selection:

• When it comes to choosing math texts for students, the most important criterion is appropriateness. The text and the material presented in the text needs to be at the grade level of the students. Math texts are great interaction tools for students, and if they don't understand the material they won't be able to fully interact with the text. 
• A second criterion I would have for math text is appeal. Math is a subject that not too many students like. By having text with bright, colorful illustrations the students will want to pick up the books and interact with them.

Use in the Classroom:

• My main use for math text in my classroom would be as additional aid for struggling students. Many students struggle with math because they can't see what they are learning. When they are able to have a visual aid and interact with the material, they will be able to grasp what is being taught.
• I would also use math text to challenge students to expand on their thinking. Teachers could do a number of different activities with a simple counting book that would challenge students to really think about what's in the text. Also having text at a student's reading level that covers a more difficult concept could really help the students improve their math skills.

TEXT EXAMPLES:
Leedy, L. (1995). 2 x 2 = boo!: A set of spooky multiplication stories. New York, NY: Holiday House.

• Complex Text Level: 1st - 2nd
• Grade Level Span for Read-Aloud: 2nd - 3rd
• Major Themes:
• Multiplication Facts
• Halloween
• Worthy Qualities of Writing:
• The table of contents provides a simple way of finding the specific multiplication rule you want to teach. In the back there is all the math facts covered in the whole book laid out for easy reference.
• The book does a great job of explaining the rules through a fun halloween story.
• Example: "The Disappearing Zero" is about two cats fighting over their witch owners and who has the more talented owner. The cats go back and forth saying how their witch made creatures disappear by saying 2x0=0 or 5x0=0. Eventually the cats say, "This is for you: 1x0=0" and they both disappear.
• Another great text feature included in this book was the illustrations and how much they added to the text. Since it is a math text the illustrations were key to the students being able to understand what the text was saying.
• Use in the Classroom:
• I would use this text to introduce the different multiplication rules to my students. They text presents them in a fun way that would be easy for the students to remember and use in the future.
• I might also use this text as a writing resource. The students could make up there own stories about the multiplication rules so that they have an individualized way of remember them.
• Support Needed:
• Being able to understand the organization and the layout of the text. There are many speech bubbles all over the page and knowing where to look first to start reading can be very difficult for young readers. 

Davis, R. (2007). 10, 9, 8 Polar animals!: A counting backward book. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.

• Complex Text Level: K - 1st
• Grade Level Span for Read-Aloud: K - 1st
• Major Themes:
• Counting
• Polar Animals
• Worthy Qualities of Writing:
• There are a number of great text features throughout the entire text. On every page there is a number line counting down, with the corresponding number highlighted for each page. There is a mini-quiz at the end asking students to count the different animals shown on the page. Also, there is a facts about the animals page, a glossary, an index, and book and Internet resources for more on polar animals.
• The text does a great job of describing the different polar animals in kid friendly terms. Illustrations also match up with the text perfectly and the students could count out each of the polar animals.
• Example: "Four flabby walruses nap on the ice. They aren't lazy, they are just warming up in the sun!"
• Use in the Classroom:
• I would definitely incorporate this book into my math and science lessons. Students would be getting their counting practice in, while also learning about important arctic creatures.
• Support Needed:
• Being able to count forward before counting backwards. 
• Some of the words could be very foreign to young readers such as, arctic, migrate, and herd. This words would either need to be discussed while reading or pre taught for better comprehension.