How do I Increase Math Vocabulary in Primary Grades?
- 1). Make a list of words for the mathematical subject you will be teaching the students. Creating a list of vocabulary words will help the students better understand the lesson, and it will allow them to know what to study, too. For example, if you are teaching the students about multiplication, then your list may consist of the terms multiplication, multiplier, multiplicand, multiple and product.
- 2). Create a lesson plan. Making a lesson plan will allow you to present the subject to the students more efficiently. For example, if you are teaching the students about multiplication, you may choose to define the words, do a problem, and then have the students solve problems on their own.
- 3). Teach the lesson. In order to increase math vocabulary in the primary grades, you should pass out the list of vocabulary words before explaining the material. Then, define the terms for the students. For example, multiplication is the mathematical operation where a number is added to itself a certain amount of times. The operation is symbolized by an x. The multiplier is the initial number of the equation, the multiplicand is the amount of times you are adding the initial number to itself, and the multiple, or product, is the answer. Show an example on the board, such as 1 x 2 = 2. Then, do another problem, such as 1 x 4 =, and have one of the students provide the answer.
- 4). Ask the students questions. In the process of providing examples of the subject to the students, ask them questions about the vocabulary words. For example, point to the multiplier and ask one of the students what the word for this number is. Also, tell the students that in one week you are going to give them a quiz on the list of vocabulary words that you passed out. You can recommend that they make flash cards for studying and show them an example of flash cards you have created.
- 5). Allow the students to work in groups when learning the new material. When increasing math vocabulary in the primary grades, it is important to allow the students to work with one another. This will give them a chance to use their new words. For example, you may give the students a worksheet of multiplication problems. They can work in groups of three to help one another solve the problems. When they are finished, go over the answers.
- 6). Allow the students to work on the math problems alone, too. To make sure that the students understand the concept when it comes to both the operations and the words, give them a sheet that they have to do individually. For example, you can give each student a sheet with seven multiplication problems. After about 10 to 15 minutes, go over the answers.
- 7). Give the students homework about the topic that involves both math problems and vocabulary. This will help the students to study both concepts. For example, you can give the students a homework sheet with multiplication problems, and sentences about the problems where the students need to fill in the blanks with vocabulary words they learned in class.
- 8). Give the students the vocabulary quiz you promised. The vocabulary quizzes can help the students learn, study and remember the words they have been taught. After you grade the quizzes and hand them back, tell the students they should keep their quizzes as a reference.
Source...