Building Mathematical Comprehension

This professional development resource bridges the gap between literacy instruction and mathematics, demonstrating how to apply proven reading comprehension strategies directly to math content. It provides educators with clear, actionable methods for helping students build schema, make conceptual connections, and develop deeper mathematical understanding through techniques like questioning, visualization, and synthesis. The approach is firmly grounded in relevant educational research, offering a structured way to move beyond procedural fluency to genuine comprehension. Aligned with College and Career Readiness Standards, it directly addresses the critical need for students to reason and make sense of mathematics, not just calculate answers.

What sets this guide apart is its practical translation of complex cognitive processes into manageable classroom strategies that any math teacher can implement. It is an indispensable tool for educators seeking to transform their math instruction, particularly those who recognize their students can perform algorithms but struggle to understand the underlying concepts. By framing mathematical thinking through the familiar lens of comprehension, it empowers teachers to cultivate students who are not just proficient but truly mathematically literate. This resource fundamentally shifts the goal from getting the right answer to building a flexible and enduring understanding of mathematics.