Writing Mathematically: The Discourse Of 'investigation' (studies In Mathematics Education Series, Number 9)

School mathematics curricula internationally tend to emphasise problem-solving and have led to the development of opportunities for children to do maths in a more open, creative way. This has led to increased interest in 'performance-based' assessment, which involves children in substantial production of written language to serve as 'evidence' of their mathematical activity and achievement. However, this raises two important questions. Firstly, does this writing accurately present children's mathematical activity and ability? Secondly, do maths teachers have sufficient linguistic awareness to support their students in developing skills and knowledge necessary for writing effectively in their subject area? The author of this book takes a critical perspective on these questions and, through an investigation of teachers' readings and evaluations of coursework texts, identifies the crucial issues affecting the accurate assessment of school mathematics. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of Figures and Table......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Preface by Series Editor......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 'The Language of Mathematics' ;Characteristics of Written Mathematical Texts......Page 19 Writing in the Mathematics Classroom......Page 33 Learning to Write Mathematically......Page 48 The Public Discourse of 'Investigation'......Page 61 A Critical Linguistic Approach to Mathematical Text......Page 87 Reading Investigative Mathematical Texts......Page 111 The Assessment of Investigations and Teacher Assessment......Page 126 Investigating Teachers Reading Coursework......Page 142 Teachers' Responses to Student Writing......Page 161 Assessing Difference: 'Creativity' and Error......Page 191 Towards a Critically Aware Mathematical Writing Curriculum......Page 208 References......Page 223 Index......Page 239 Social Sciences Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 List of Figures and Table 8 Acknowledgments 9 Preface by Series Editor 10 Introduction 12 'The Language of Mathematics' ;Characteristics of Written Mathematical Texts 19 Writing in the Mathematics Classroom 33 Learning to Write Mathematically 48 The Public Discourse of 'Investigation' 61 A Critical Linguistic Approach to Mathematical Text 87 Reading Investigative Mathematical Texts 111 The Assessment of Investigations and Teacher Assessment 126 Investigating Teachers Reading Coursework 142 Teachers' Responses to Student Writing 161 Assessing Difference: 'Creativity' and Error 191 Towards a Critically Aware Mathematical Writing Curriculum 208 References 223 Index 239