Welcome to my new post!
Hi! I hope you are staying healthy and happy during the continuation of this pandemic. I am Julia Park and I am a senior Early Childhood Education major at Millersville University! I have many posts up on this site already, so check them out if you would like!
In my last post, I provided information and links to other resources about using manipulatives to benefit math instruction! In this post, I will be detailing the use of children’s literature when teaching math.
Why is Reading so Helpful for Learning Math?
Using children’s literature to teach mathematics has a variety of benefits. Combining multiple subjects provides teachers with an amazing opportunity to allow students to strengthen several skills in one lesson or activity. Some benefits of connecting children’s literature that I have learned about so far include the following:
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- Children’s literature can contain mathematical vocabulary and concepts in a familiar and understandable way for many children.
- Students might have a deeper connection to literature. Children’s interest in math may increase since it is being taught by using a subject they really enjoy or feel more comfortable with.
- Teachers can use books, poems, or other forms of literature that contain information that is relevant to their students. By containing content that is relevant, children will be more interested and have an easier time grasping the skill or concept that is being taught.
- Literature can also provide children with real-world contexts to support their learning. Math is used in everyday lives, although many students do not realize this. Using literature materials that connect math concepts outside of the classroom will encourage students to feel like there is more of a purpose to what they are learning, resulting in memorable experiences in math class.
- Children’s literature materials can be used to spark conversation about a mathematical concept. Class discussions are very beneficial because students can share their thoughts and receive feedback, ask questions, hear their peers’ thoughts, and critique the ideas of others. This will give students the opportunity to practice their mathematical thinking and hear the thinking processes of others in a safe space.
- The use of children’s literature in math class can be a great tool for differentiation. Teachers can use reading materials that are developmentally appropriate for children and can support them based on their specific needs.
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An Example of How to Implement Children’s 
Literature into Math Class
There are many ways teachers can implement children’s literature into math instruction. The most common one is by using picture books to support mathematical learning. I will be focusing on that example in this section.
Using picture books can be a really simple way of starting discussions about mathematical concepts. Teachers can use interesting and exciting books to hook their students when introducing a new math idea.
Picture books can also be used to pose a problem for students. There are many books that incorporate ideas or problems related to math for children to explore.
Centers or lessons can incorporate math-related picture books. The storyline or contents of the book can correspond to what the students are learning. There are so many activities that extend children’s learning just by using picture books!
Click on the image above for examples of math read-alouds for primary grades!
Beneficial Resources 
As we near the end of this post, I wanted to provide you all with resources to assist you in connecting children’s literature to mathematics. Here are some awesome resources I am excited to use in my own classroom:
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- The image above has a link to an amazing website that has a culmination of books related to mathematical concepts that you can use in your own classroom!
- Another great page to check out is on scholastic.com and is written by Alycia Zimmerman. She provides teachers with information and resources about how to connect picture books to mathematics instruction!
- Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature Site includes links to helpful articles and resources to help teachers incorporate children’s literature into mathematics instruction.
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Thank you for reading my blog post!
I hope you enjoyed this blog post! Children’s literature is a great tool to use to connect math with a subject that many students find comfort in. I highly suggest checking out those links I included throughout my post because they are very helpful! Have a wonderful day and come back soon!
-Julia 🙂