FROM (COM)TEXT TO THE CLASSROOM: THE DIMENSIONS OF READING FOR MATHEMATICAL LITERACY IN THE FREIREAN PERSPECTIVE
Mathematical literacy; Context; Three pedagogical moments; Reading the world.
Mathematics is often regarded as a difficult subject in basic education, frequently taught in a formal and formulaic manner, disconnected from students’ real-life contexts. This study aims to investigate the potentialities and limitations of a teaching approach to mathematical concepts grounded in students' lived experiences, in order to promote mathematical literacy (numeracy). The research is based on Paulo Freire’s concepts of reading the world and reading the word, as well as theoretical perspectives on mathematical literacy. The educational intervention was carried out with a 6th-grade class at a public school in Serra Caiada, Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil. It began with a thematic investigation that led to the selection of the generative theme: water scarcity. The teaching proposal was structured around this theme, following the Three Pedagogical Moments: Initial Problematic (PI), with dialogic classes; Knowledge Organization (OC), using a historical narrative in comic strip format and basic sanitation concepts, integrating both formal and informal mathematics; and Knowledge Application (AC), involving a practical activity based on the concepts discussed. This proposal resulted in an Educational Product comprising a sequence of mathematics lessons for the final years of elementary school. In addition to addressing curricular content, the sequence fostered critical discussions on the political, historical, and social implications of water scarcity, aiming to raise political awareness regarding the limit-situations experienced by the students. Future steps include analyzing whether the intended objectives were achieved through Discursive Textual Analysis (ATD), identifying elements that reveal the potential and limitations of a context-based didactic approach.