Cover not available
Part of
Language, Literacy, and Learning in STEM Education: Research Methods and Perspectives from Applied Linguistics
Edited by Mary Jane Curry and David I. Hanauer
[Language Studies, Science and Engineering 1] 2014
► pp. 143–164

Chapter 9. Improving girls’ interest in mathematics through writing

Findings from a mixed-methods study

| Indiana University of Pennsylvania

This chapter argues that one effective way to engage students, especially female students, in the learning of mathematics is to incorporate writing activities into mathematics classrooms. The chapter reports on findings from a mixed-methods research study which examined female and male middle school students’ perceptions of using writing as a tool for learning mathematics. Two research questions were examined: (1) What are students’ attitudes towards writing in mathematics classes? (2) What indications of mathematical knowledge growth and learner development can be found in student writing for mathematics classes? A survey instrument was administered to 293 middle school students. Using a Likert Scale format, the students responded to 28 survey items about their study of mathematics and their use of writing in mathematics classes. A t-test was used to analyze these quantitative survey results. Additionally, five open-ended questions on the survey asked what students had learned from using writing in their mathematics classes and how they viewed this teaching approach. These open-ended responses were qualitatively analyzed to provide a deeper understanding of students’ views on the use of writing in mathematics classes. Ultimately this study offers evidence which suggests that writing can be a key to heightening female students’ interest in mathematics.

Published online: 12 June 2014
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lsse.1.09rei
References
Baxter, J.A., Woodward, J., & Olson, D
(2005) Writing in mathematics: An alternative form of communication for academically low-achieving students. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 20(2), 119–135. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Beecher, M., & Sweeney, S.M
(2008) Closing the achievement gap with curriculum enrichment and differentiation: One school’s story. Journal of Advanced Academics, 19, 502–530.Google Scholar
Brandenburg, Sr. M. L
(2002) Advanced math? Write! Educational Leadership, 60(3), 67–68.Google Scholar
Burns, M
(2004) Writing in math. Educational Leadership, 62(2), 30–32.Google Scholar
Ceci, S.J., Williams, W.M., & Barnett, S.M
(2009) Women’s underrepresentation in science: Sociocultural and biological considerations. Psychological Bulletin, 135, 218–261. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Chudowsky, N., & Chudowsky, V
(2010) State test score trends through 2007–08, Part 5: Are there differences in achievement between boys and girls? Retrieved from Center on Education Policy website: [URL]Google Scholar
Cooper, A
(2012) Today’s technologies enhance writing in mathematics. The Clearinghouse: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 85(2), 80–85.Google Scholar
Davison, D.M., & Pearce, D.L
(1988) Teacher use of writing in the junior high mathematics classroom. School Science and Mathematics, 88(1), 6–15. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Doty, L.L
(2012) A mathematician learns the basics of writing instruction: An immersion experience with long-term benefits. Primus, 22(1), 14–29. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Draper, R.J
(2002) School mathematics reform, constructivism, and literacy: A case for literacy instruction in the reform-orientated math classroom. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 45(6), 520–529.Google Scholar
Ediger, M
(2006) Writing in the mathematics curriculum. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 33(2), 120.Google Scholar
Gay, L. R, & Airasian, P
(2003) Educational research: Competencies for analysis and applications (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.Google Scholar
Geist, E.A., & King, M
(2008) Different, not better: Gender difference in mathematics learning and achievement. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 35(1), 43–52.Google Scholar
Gibson, M., & Thomas, T.G
(2005) Quilting blocks: Writing in the geometry classroom. Mathematics Teacher, 99(2), 108–111.Google Scholar
Hanson, W.B., Creswell, J.W., Plano-Clark, Y.L., Petska, K.S., & Creswell, D
(2005) Mixed methods research designs in counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(2), 224–235. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Harbaugh, A.P., Pugalee, D.K., & Adams, M
n.d.). A descriptive analysis of secondary mathematics students’ formal report writing. Retrieved from [URL]
Hatch, J.A
(2002) Doing qualitative research in education settings. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.Google Scholar
Hennessey, M.N., Higley, K., & Chesnut, S.R
(2012) Persuasive pedagogy: A new paradigm for mathematics education. Educational Psychological Review, 24, 187–204. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hiebert, J., Morris, J., & Glass, B
(2003) Learning to learn to teach: An ‘experiment’ model for teaching and teacher preparation in mathematics. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 6, 201–222. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hill, C., Corbett, C., & St. Rose, A
(2010) Why so few? Women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Retrieved January16, 2014, from the American Association of University Women: [URL]Google Scholar
Huang, J. & Normandia, B
(2009) Students’ perceptions on communicating mathematically: A case study of a secondary mathematics classroom. The International Journal of Learning, 16(5), 1–21.Google Scholar
Hyde, J.S., Lindberg, S.M., Linn, M.C., Ellis, A., & Williams, C
(2008) Gender similarities characterize math performance. Science, 321, 494–495. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Kurtz-Costes, B., Rowley, S.J., Harris-Britt, A., & Woods, T.A
(2008) Gender stereotypes about mathematics and science and self-perceptions of ability in late childhood and early adolescence. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 54(3), 386–409. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Lipinski, D
(2009) Lipinski examines ways to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education participation among females. Retrieved from [URL]
Lopez, S.C
(2010) Towards evidence-based practices in mathematics instruction: Investigating the impact of writing on student ability to solve mathematics problems. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Chicago: Loyola University.Google Scholar
McCormick, K
(2010) Experiencing the power of learning mathematics through writing. Issues in the undergraduate mathematics preparation of school teachers, 4, 1–8. Retrieved from [URL]Google Scholar
Millard, E. S., T. L. Oaks, and T. M. Sanders
(2002) Improving student achievement through inclusion of problem solving in the math curriculum. Arlington, VA: ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 469 078.Google Scholar
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
(2000) Principles and standards for school mathematics. Reston, VA: Author.Google Scholar
Neuville, E., & Croizet, J.C
(2007) Can salience of gender identity impair math performance among 7–8 years old girls? The moderating rile of task difficulty. European Journal of Psychology of Education, XXII(3), 307–316. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Ntenza, S
(2006) Investigating forms of children’s writing in grade 7 mathematics classrooms. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 61(3), 321–345. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
O’Connell, S.R., Beamon, C., Beyea, J.M., Denvir, S.S., Dowdall, L.A., Friedland, N.G., & Ward, J.D
(2005) Aiming for understanding: Lessons learned about writing in mathematics. Teaching Children Mathematics, 12(4), 192–199.Google Scholar
Onwuegbuzie, A.J., & Leech, N.L
(2004) Enhancing the interpretation of “significant” findings: The role of mixed methods research. The Qualitative Report, 9(4), 770–792.Google Scholar
Penner, A.M
(2008) Gender differences in extreme mathematical achievement: An international perspective on biological and social factors. American Journal of Sociology, 114, 138–170. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Pennsylvania Partnership for Children
(2013) School lunch-students eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch. Retrieved from [URL] Google Scholar
Pugalee, D.K
(2004) A comparison of verbal and written descriptions of student solving processes. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 55, 27–47. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Ross, A., & Onwuegbuzie, A.J
(2012) Prevalence of mixed methods research in mathematics education. The Mathematics Educator, 22(1), 84–113.Google Scholar
Seto, M., & Meel, E. D
(2000) Writing in mathemaWtics: Making it work. Primus: Problems, Resources, and Issues in Mathematics Undergraduate Studies, 16(3), 204.Google Scholar
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)
. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved July5, 2013, from [URL]Google Scholar
Steen, L. A
2007 How mathematics counts. Educational Leadership, 65(3): 8–14.Google Scholar
Thomas, R.M
(2003) Blending qualitative and quantitative research methods in theses and dissertations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.Google Scholar
Urquhart, V
(2009) Using writing in mathematics to deepen student learning. Aurora, CO: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning.Google Scholar
United States Department of Commerce
(2012) [City] quick facts from US Census Bureau. Retrieved from [URL]Google Scholar
Van de gaer, E., Pustjens, H., & Van Damme, J
(2008) Mathematics participation and mathematics achievement across secondary school: The role of gender. Sex Roles, 59, 568–585. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Wellman, B
(1998) Doing it ourselves: The SPSS Manual as sociology’s most influential recent book. In D. Clawson (Ed.), Required reading: Sociology’s most influential books (pp. 71–78). Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press.Google Scholar
Wilcox, B., & Monroe, E.E
(2011) Integrating writing and mathematics. The Reading Teacher, 64(7), 521–529. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Xu, Y.J
(2008) Gender disparity in STEM disciplines: A study of faculty attrition and turnover intentions. Research in Higher Education, 49, 607–624. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Cited by

Cited by 2 other publications

Ajello, Anna Maria, Elisa Caponera & Laura Palmerio
2018. Italian students’ results in the PISA mathematics test: does reading competence matter?. European Journal of Psychology of Education 33:3 ► pp. 505 ff. DOI logo
Falout, Joseph, Matthew Apple & Glen Hill
2022. Setting the Stage of STEM English for Students. In STEM English in Japan, ► pp. 3 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 11 april 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.