ABSTRACT

Today it is critical to excite young people about mathematics in our high-tech STEM world we live in. Math

teachers today need to embolden students to be confident in their ability to solve problems, to think and

use their imaginations, to understand mathematical concepts, to be creative, and to see math as a human

endeavor. The author feels that as students feel less anxious about, and more confident in their abilities to

do math their performance will improve. The author has provided an in-depth literature review and offers

background information on using children’s literature to teach mathematics; sharing the methods and

materials possible to incorporate such literature into such math instruction in a wide range of mathematics

strands. The results of using such literature in the teaching of mathematics may help to lower math anxiety

and pique students interest and confidence in math and the STEM fields. Teachers need to address this

alarming problem and work toward developing mathematically confident young people for a world where

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields dominate the globe, using literature to

teach mathematics can support and cultivate students’ math confidence for a STEM world.

Some Benefits of Using Literature in Mathematics Instruction Include:

• Math ideas are taught in the context of a story

• Combines integrated studies with reading, writing, speaking, listening, etc.

• Advances mathematical thinking

• Thwarts math anxiety and creates a less math anxious classroom milieu

• Permits for a variety of responses

• Allows for historical, cultural, and practical applications and connections

• May promote the use of certain math manipulatives as it relates to the story

• A teacher can evaluate a child’s understanding by reading/questioning

• Currently there is a wide range of books to use in teaching most math concepts K-8

• Lends itself to problem solving and active involvement from the context of the story

• Affords for a shared experience for both students and the teacher