In light of the new report-style IAs in the IB classes, we are thinking of introducing more mathematical reading and writing in our courses. I am even thinking of having younger students do some reading and writing mathematically. For example, our IGCSE students regularly do investigations in class (from a book called New York Cop) and so I am thinking about developing some writing up lessons for them. Also I would like to help students read some mathematical material. For the younger (KS3, 11-14 year olds), I have been thinking about the Murderous Maths books (by Kjartan Poskitt). They are highly entertaining and very readable, yet also quite mathematical.
I have been reading a book called About the Size of It: The Common Sense Approach to Measuring Things (by Warwick Cairns) that I think I could use with 14 or 15 year olds. And a more advanced book is Math Through the Ages (by Berlinghoff and Gouvea), that older students could read, with short “sketches” of about 5 pages from various eras and areas. Now I have still to find some student-accessible mathematical articles of the kind that report on an investigation or problem. I suppose what I want to achieve is similar to the goals of teachers who show their students sample IAs.
Do you do mathematical reading or writing exercises with your students?