Writing is an activity that takes time, and for that reason it is often neglected in the content areas.  The benefits of writing greatly outweigh the limits.  Just as doing mathematics requires gathering, clarifying and organizing thoughts, finding out what is known and not known, and planning to solve a problem, so does writing.  Writing in mathematics can help students make sense of the processes and help teachers understand what students are learning.

K-N-W-S Chart for Math Problem Solving - vertical

K-N-W-S chart for Math Problem Solving - horizontal

Websites on Writing in Mathematics:

Mathpower.com - Student Tutorials for Algebra

http://www.mathpower.com/tutorial.htm

Mathpower.com - Student Tutorials for Mathematics Fundamentals

http://www.mathpower.com/tutorialfund.htm

Math Songs and Poems

http://www.mscc.cc.tn.us/webs/vyoung/songs/main_pages/tables.htm

In Class Writing Assignments in the Content Areas

http://www.mathnstuff.com/papers/inclass.htm

Using Writing in Mathematics

http://www2.ups.edu/community/tofu/lev2/journaling/writemath.htm

Math Journals for All Ages

http://math.about.com/library/weekly/aa123001a.htm

Writing in Mathematics

http://www.geocities.com/kaferico/writemat.htm#A

Options for Writing in Math -PDF
http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/resources/math/Assessment/optionsforwritinginmath.pdf

A Guide to Writing in Mathematics by Dr. Kevin P. Lee - PDF

http://www.stat.ualberta.ca/~wiens/purdue1_write.pdf

Mathematical Writing to Inform Rubric - PDF

http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/heal/pdf%20files/inform.pdf

Math Out Loud!  Talking and Writing about Math

http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3585