Math Word Walls – Making Math More Meaningful
“An understanding of critical mathematical terms is essential for students as they develop an understanding of mathematical concepts.” – Laney Sammons
Knowledge of mathematical language is vital for the building of deep conceptual understanding. To develop our students’ math literacy, we must provide meaningful opportunities to talk and write about math concepts and encourage children to share their thinking. The integration of a math word wall into the classroom routine allows our developing mathematicians the chance to see and identify words and phrases they will need for growing understanding.
Reading vocabulary is enhanced daily by conversations, reading, and writing opportunities. Word walls have long been a apart of classrooms dedicated to building reading and writing literacy. On the other hand, math vocabulary is not normally a part of our students’ daily lives outside the classroom. It is important that we provide a meaningful focus on the terms and vocabulary that our children need to understand directions and to talk competently about problem solving. Effective vocabulary instruction should be a part of math learning, followed by the posting of terms and visuals, to help our young learners make connections and build meaning.
Put a meaningful math word wall to work:
- Introduce new words in context – with relevant examples, real objects, pictures, or diagrams. Post them by concepts for easy review.
- Explain the meaning carefully and revisit the term often. Use the vocabulary in a variety of situations when possible, showing that math language is not only a part of learning, but a part of our daily lives.
- Incorporate student examples of terms to show meaning.
- Display the words where students can see them and use them to support their math discussions and writing opportunities.
- Build upon the math word wall and make it active. Post the words as they are introduced in daily lessons and provide multiple exposures to important concepts and skills. These should not be words that are used in isolation. Draw upon the patterns and connections that so often work through a variety of concepts.
- Encourage the use of the math word wall when working in math journals, checking graphic organizers, and having students show their thinking.
- Play games with the word wall like “Guess My Word” – Give the definition and have students name the term.
- Have students create visual representations of the terms. “Do a Doodle” – Assign a term and have students doodle a quick representation of its meaning.
- Challenge students to rank the words. List the 5 easiest and the 5 most difficult terms for them to understand.
Just as “you must do math to understand math,” you must do a word wall to develop understanding of the vocabulary. Effective vocabulary instruction provides our growing mathematicians with the tools to communicate about math and develop their math literacy skills.
Here are a couple of examples that might be of interest:
http://www.graniteschools.org/mathvocabulary/vocabulary-cards/
We recommend Building Mathematical Comprehension by Laney Sammons for more ideas about building mathematical literacy skills in our classrooms.
