Word Walls in Mathematics

Mathematics is filled with confusing vocabulary! For example, the word median is used with statistical measures (the middle term in a set of data that is in order numerically) and in geometry (the median of a triangle is the line segment from one vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side). Ask students to find the difference and you might want them to subtract two numbers or you might be asking them to tell you how the numbers differ - odd vs even, prime vs composite. Begin a geometry unit and you have new vocabulary coming at the students fast and furious. So, how can we help our students master the vocabulary as quickly as possible. First, as I mentioned in my previous post, use the vocabulary correctly and use it often. Second, try putting a word wall up in your classroom. There are many ways to design a word wall. You might want to start with the vocabulary word, followed by the definition, followed by a visual. You might want to incorporate the visual within the word. Examples of this can be found at The Broward County Public Schools - Exceptional Student Education page. You will need to scroll down to they yellow link - Mathematic Word Wall. You will need Adobe Reader to view the document. I would suggest that when you begin the school year you have a word wall started. As the year progresses have the students take charge of the word wall. The possibilites are endless - be creative and have fun with it!