Students will learn math vocabulary.
Additional Resources
Book
Additional Media
W.F. Lindgren said, "Mathematics is a language. Reading a mathematics text is somewhat like reading Tolstoy's Anna Karenina in the original Russian. No matter how excellent the math instruction is, if the students do not know and understand the meaning of the vocabulary they will not learn what is necessary."
One of the basic skills needed to understand the meanings of the four operations is a thorough understanding of math vocabulary. Math requires a specialized set of vocabulary, just as subjects such as technology, music, art, and science do. Students must comprehend math vocabulary if they are going to be able to reason and communicate mathematically.
1. Demonstrate a positive learning attitude toward mathematics.
2. Become mathematical problem solvers.
Invitation to Learn
Dress up in a doctor costume for math class and use your acting
abilities to become Dr. Mathemator--an operation specialist! Introduce
your students to the vocabulary for each operation in a fun and engaging
way. A suggested script is below, but use your own personality and
imagination to make this work for you.
"Hello! I am Dr. Mathemator and I am ready to operate! Who was it that needed an operation? Aha! Are you the one that needs brain surgery? Over there, do you need a new liver? I know I have a spare one somewhere! Oh, you are definitely in need of _________ (looking confused) Why are you looking so puzzled and laughing at me? Am I in the wrong class? Is this not Surgery 101? What class is this? Math? Well then I am in luck, this class will be just fine for me. There are lots of operations to be done in math! You don't believe me? We might not do brain surgery, but we will do addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and they are all operations! So--it is time to begin!
Instructional Procedures
This lesson includes vocabulary for all four operations. You would
not teach these all at once, but rather teach each set of vocabulary as
you introduce the operation throughout the year. After teaching each
set you can also use them for a review.
Addition--get them all
Subtraction--take away or compare
Multiplication--total of equal groups, repeated addition
Division--separate into equal groups, repeated subtraction
Journaling Activity: Write vocabulary words your students have problems with and think of memory devices to help them remember.
Addends--"Addends, addends, add them at the end" (like a jumprope rhyme).
Subtrahend--on the bottom like a submarine, crawl on floor as you repeat "I am the subtrahend, I am on the bottom."
Minuend--I am the number that gets diMINished, or made smaller. Pass out licorice sticks--have them take a bite and say I just diminished this, it is smaller."
Factor--We don't "fear factors"--they let us multiply!
Example: I multiplied the factor 3 by the factor 8 which gave me a product of 24. I used the divisor 6 to get the quotient 4. One bonus point is awarded for each correct vocabulary word they use.
Example: Factor--I multiplied the factors 2 and 4 to get 8. Students can interview older students taking advanced math classes, look on the Internet, or read books such as On Beyond a Million and G is for Google.
Example: There are 36 students in our class. We need to make 9 groups. How many students will be in each group?
This is a division problem because we have a large group that needs to be separated into smaller equal groups. The dividend is 36 and we divide it using the divisor, which is 9. The quotient is 4, so there will be 4 students in each group.
Research Basis
Hougue, M.D. (2003). Enriching Math Vocabulary–Measuring up to the PSSA, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Online at www.tec.iup.eud/mhougue/literary
This article discusses the premise that students lacking an understanding of math vocabulary are handicapped in their efforts to learn mathematics.
Raiker, A. (2002). Spoken Language and Mathematics. Cambridge Journal of Education.
Rubenstein, R. & Thompson, D. (2002). Understanding and Supporting Children’s Mathematical Vocabulary Development. Teaching Children Mathematics.
The previous sources were quoted extensively and provide additional information on the importance of developing strong math vocabulary skills in our students.