When it comes to math, vocabulary is a very important factor. Some teachers and tutors can spend so much time focusing on the functions and formulas, and disregard some of the basic *words* that make up those formulas. If students don’t know that “finding the sum” means to add, or when they see the phrase “at this rate” usually means to multiply, they may find themselves stuck on a problem from the very beginning. Just like in reading and language arts, there are some fun, educational, and kid-friendly ways to make these important words stick in their minds. 📚
Create a Word Wall 📝
Word Walls are very popular in English and Reading classes, but they work great in math too. Every time a new word is introduced, write it down and put it up in a designated space. Teachers and parents can refer to these words often, and model how to use them in sentences, and then show examples of what it means to use the word. Parents can also take advantage of this highly visual education tool by putting words up on their refrigerator at home. 📌
Vocab Posters 🎨
For more artistic and creative students, encourage them to create math vocab posters. Give them creative freedom to design posters to hang in the classroom that will help them, and other students, remember key words such as area, bar graph, exponent, and median. This allows students to engage creatively with the material while reinforcing their learning.
Flashcards 📇
There are hundreds of online resources for math vocabulary flashcards, but when students design their own, they are much more likely to remember the words. The act of writing them will help the terms stick in their brains even more. You can also make flashcards as a fun, hands-on activity, and use them for quick review sessions to enhance memory retention.
Bingo 🎲
Bingo is a fun way to practice math words while having fun. This can be played as a whole class or one-on-one in a tutoring session. Templates for the game can easily be found online and printed out. Find blank bingo sheets if you can, because, just like with the flashcards, students remember the info better if they physically write down the words. Create Bingo Games Here 🎉
Equip your child with the vocabulary required to read and understand every math problem he/she comes across with confidence. Not only will focusing on vocabulary help your child understand math problems easier, but it will also equip them with a larger vocabulary in general, which will help them to communicate in all areas of their life more effectively. Studying these vocab words also helps students practice memorization, focus, and concentration. 🌟
