Vocabulary in Mathematics Classrooms
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
|
Multimeaning Luck
Math has more than its share of words such as base, product, power, point, and ray for which students have one meaning but for which they need to develop a math-related concept. Multimeaning Luck is a fun activity to review the mathematical meaning for these words. Prepare for the lesson by writing down each word, with one math-related and one non-math-related definition. (Overhead transparencies work best for this lesson, but you can also write the words on the board.) On the bottom of the transparency or on a part of the board you can cover temporarily, write one sentence for each word. Be sure to include in these sentences both math-related and unrelated meanings, as students will have to guess which definition your sentence uses. If you use only math-related meanings, they will easily figure out the system. The following is a sample lesson.
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