When most people think of mathematics they think of numbers, but math is a subject with its own very particular vocabulary, and if you don’t know precisely what its words and symbols mean, you just can’t do mathematics! Here are some activities teachers use which help students master the language of math.
A Symbol Board
Cover a bulletin board or attach a banner to your wall and add symbols to it as they are introduced. Put the symbol and a “class-created, user-friendly” definition. Add pictures and opposites as appropriate. Use different colored markers and make it as appealing as possible
Math Morphemes
The Word Bench activity in which you ask your students if they know any other words that look and sound like a new mathematics term and if they think any of these words might be related will help your students become more morphologically sophisticated. In addition, you have the unique opportunity to teach your students the meaning for some morphemes that occur most commonly in mathematics words. Seize this opportunity when introducing one of these words because your students might not meet these morphemes in any of their other classes:
| Morpheme | Math Usage | General Usage |
|
bi (two) cent (hundred) circu (around) co, con (with) dec (ten) dia (through) equi (equal) inter (between) kilo (thousand) milli (thousand) peri (around) poly (many) quadr (four) tri (thre |
bisect, binomial, bimodal centimeter, percent circle, circumference coefficient, cosine, collinear decimal, decagon diagonal, diameter equilateral, equiangular intersect, interpolate kilometer, kilogram millimeter, milligram perimeter polygon, polynomial quadrant, quadruple triangle, triple |
bicycle, bifocals, bilingual century, centipede circumvent, circumstances cocaptains, coordinate, concurrent decade, decibel dialogue, diagram equator, equinox, equitable interception, international kilowatt millennium, million periphery, periscope, periodontal polygamy, polyunsaturated quadrangle, quadruped tricycle, tripod, trilogy
|
-
1
- 2
© ______ 2007, Allyn & Bacon, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The reproduction, duplication, or distribution of this material by any means including but not limited to email and blogs is strictly prohibited without the explicit permission of the publisher.
Add your own comment
Ask a Question
Have questions about this article or topic? AskToday on Education.com
Popular Articles
- Kindergarten Sight Words List
- The Five Warning Signs of Asperger's Syndrome
- What Makes a School Effective?
- Child Development Theories
- Why is Play Important? Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Creative Development
- 10 Fun Activities for Children with Autism
- Test Problems: Seven Reasons Why Standardized Tests Are Not Working
- Bullying in Schools
- A Teacher's Guide to Differentiating Instruction
- Steps in the IEP Process


Celebrate Memorial Day! Worksheets and Activities About American History
Spring Fever! 6 Ways to Settle Kids Down 