"From Graphs to Paragraphs: An Analysis of the Use of Writing in Teaching and Learning Mathematics

Abstract

Communication and independent learning skills are becoming more and more crucial in this era of machine learning. This forces our teachers to experiment with new teaching techniques in order to meet the demands of the modern world. In mathematics education for instance, the use of various writing activities, which have traditionally been seen as insignificant in Mathematics teaching and learning, has gained attention education due to its potential to foster critical thinking and provide students a sense of purpose in their study. By giving students the opportunity to meaningfully explore concepts, writing in math instruction is one method that helps students make the connection between mathematics and the real world. However, it is not well known how much writing is used as a teaching tool in math classes.This study investigated the extent of use of writing activities in Mathematics teaching and learning of 73 high school math teachers in Cagayan. The study found out that writing is not frequently utilized as a teaching technique in math classes, and the majority of the teachers surveyed said they used writing exercises in their math classes less than once per week. Additionally, it was discovered by the survey that teachers who had received training in using writing as a teaching tool were more likely to do so in their math classes. The majority of teachers, however, claimed that they had not been given any training on how to incorporate writing into the teaching of mathematics..