Critical Literacies in Mathematics: Communicating and Working Mathematically - A Literacy and Numeracy Nightmare!

Abstract

What does it mean? I don't get it! If students grasp the meanings of statements the next question becomes: How do you do it? Much… much later, it is followed by more questions: What is the point? Why do we learn it? These are typical questions reluctant students in a compulsory mathematics course invariably ask when unable to comprehend the literal and mathematical meanings of statements presented as word problems and/or combinations of numerical, symbolic, graphical and geometrical representations. The paper discusses some examples of general strategies that might overcome this literacy and numeracy nightmare every time students encounter incomprehensible mathematics problems.