Comprehension Connection – Strategy Connection

August 25, 2016

“Both reading and math require purposeful thinking for the construction of meaning.” – Laney Sammons

In Building Mathematical Comprehension, Laney Sammons addresses the need for increasing math understanding at all levels and provides us with the tools to build mathematical literacy in our classrooms. She shares the research of Keene and Zimmerman and their model for teaching reading comprehension strategies. Laney outlines how easily this “gradual release planning template” can be adapted to teach our students the same strategies for building math comprehension.

In chapter 1, Laney presents the 4 phases for teaching comprehension strategies:

Planning Phase

Identify the comprehension strategy to teach and examine its mathematical context.
Plan math experiences that involve teacher modeling and think-alouds using the strategy.
Share with parents how the strategy is related to math and ask them to practice it at home.

Early Phase

Instructional Focus:

Think aloud how mathematicians use the strategy.
Discuss how mathematicians use the strategy when working with math concepts and in solving problems.
Share how the strategy helps build understanding.
Model the strategy in different mathematical contexts.
Model how to communicate math thinking.
Guide student math discussions about using the strategy.
Encourage students to talk about how they have used the strategy.

Student Focus:

Students experiment with the strategy.
Students share their thinking.

Middle Phase

Instructional Focus:

Think aloud and describe the strategy in greater depth.
Show how to apply the strategy in a variety of ways.
Model how the strategy will help your students have deeper understanding.
Share your thinking and math vocabulary.
Discuss connections with the strategy.
Confer with and assess students to plan further teaching.
Create and meet with groups to meet student needs.
Keep parents aware of the learning taking place.

Student Focus:

Students apply the strategy in a variety of contexts.
Students express their thinking.
Students apply the strategy in more complex ways.
Students show evidence of how they have used the strategy.
Students share and explain how they have used the strategy.

Late Phase

Instructional Focus:

Model and think aloud in more challenging contexts.
Demonstrate how to use the strategy in unfamiliar contexts.
Share how this strategy works with previously learned strategies.
Begin the planning for the next strategy to be introduced.

Student Focus:

Students clearly explain their use of the strategy.
Students apply the strategy accurately.
Students share how to use the strategy independently.
Students use the strategy in more challenging ways.
Students gain flexibility in using the strategy.
Students effectively mix and match strategies to gain meaning.

The same strategies we have put into place for teaching reading comprehension, work in building math understanding. By purposefully teaching and modeling the use of an effective strategy, we open the door for our children to take that strategy and make it their own. The goal – for our students to create effective toolboxes, filled with the tools to create meaning.

Please join us over the coming weeks as we continue to delve into Building Mathematical Comprehension. Laney Sammons’ step-by-step guide is a valuable tool for teachers everywhere!

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