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| Didax "Class Ideas" Newsletter Archive |
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As the blue skies and bright leaves of October give way to colder weather and eager anticipation of the coming holidays, it?s time to really get down to work in the classroom. This month?s issue of Class Ideas focuses on a topic we don?t always associate with math: the words we use to talk about math operations and concepts. As a student with dyslexia once pointed out, math involves a lot of reading! This month?s article by Dr. Paul Swan discusses tools and techniques for overcoming the confusion students (including those with learning disabilities and English language learners) often face when learning unfamiliar math terms.
We?ll also provide Internet links to related topics and activities, some downloadable reference pages from Didax's new "Visual Math Dictionary," and a subscriber-only special. We hope you find the information in this issue informative. I'd love to hear from you, so please don't hesitate to email me with any comments or suggestions. Until next time,
Cindy O?Neill, Editor |
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| Math Language ? Making It Clear |
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by Dr. Paul Swan
Many of the problems students experience in mathematics are due to language. Consider, for example, the code switching that must go on in a math lesson. The teacher introduces a lesson on volume, and the students think, "Isn?t that a control on the TV?"
Consider how many of the words we use in mathematics have a different meaning in the "real world," or how many words have more than one meaning. The word more is a good example of a word that can imply either subtraction or addition, depending on the way it?s used. If I said, "Gemma had 4 pencils and then she was given 3 more. How many pencils does she have?", you would expect to add 4 and 3. The word more may also involve subtraction; for example, "If Gemma has 8 pencils and I have 5 pencils, how many more pencils does Gemma have?"
If that?s enough to confuse students, consider the specialized mathematical vocabulary that we use. If you don?t realize that sum means to add and product means to multiply, then any word problem that includes these terms will cause difficulties.
When you also consider that many students experience reading problems, "miss" words, or have difficulty comprehending written work, the task of teaching math can become a bit daunting.
The following are some tools and strategies that you can incorporate into your math teaching to familiarize your students with the math terms and concepts they need to know.
Provide mathematical dictionaries
Most classrooms contain dictionaries for use when trying to spell a word or find the meaning, so why not keep a few math dictionaries on hand? Look for a math dictionary that contains simple descriptions of terms and clear tables, charts, and diagrams.
Brainstorm math vocabulary
At the beginning of a topic, brainstorm to list all the words that your students associate with the topic. This is an excellent assessment technique and can help you find out what your students know, what they don?t know, and what misconceptions they might have. Closely allied with this technique is the use of concept maps and mind maps. These can be used as a before-and-after assessment technique.
Model correct use of language
I remember once overhearing a group of students in a math lesson referring to eagles all the time. I assumed they were talking about the West Coast Eagles (an Australian football team). That was until I heard one of them say "four plus four eagles eleven." When I listened to the teacher, it also sounded as though she was saying "eagles."
Acknowledge anomalies
Why is the distance around an object referred to as the perimeter, except when it is a circle? Is it incorrect to refer to the "perimeter" of a circle rather than the circumference?
Explain the origin of words
Consider the prefix deca. Where is it used? (In words like decade and decagon.) If students knew the prefix deca means "ten," and the suffix gon come from the Greek gonia or ?angle corner,? then they might be able to work out that a decagon has ten corners.
Use Newman analysis
This technique was developed by a teacher who wanted to pinpoint where her students were experiencing language problems in math. It?s based on asking five questions to determine where breakdown is occurring.
1. Reading: "Please read the question to me. If you don?t know a word, leave it out."
2. Comprehension: "Tell me what the question is asking you to do."
3. Transformation: "Tell me how you are going to find the answer."
4. Process skills: "Show me what to do to get the answer. Tell me what you are doing as you work."
5. Encoding: "Now write down the answer to the question." |
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| Downloadable Dictionary Sample Pages |
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 This month we're excited to bring you some sample pages from Didax's just-published "Visual Math Dictionary." This comprehensive desktop resource for students in grades 5 and up provides simple, clear definitions of more than 600 math terms, as well as 60 pages of illustrated references on everything from multiplication tables to 3-D shapes to metric conversion. Check out these sample pages to see if the "Visual Math Dictionary" is a resource that belongs on your classroom's reference shelf! |
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| Math Vocabulary Internet Links |
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 "The use of appropriate language is the key to making mathematics intelligible," said Professor Frank B. Allen at the NCTM Annual Meeting in 1988. And the experts continue to agree. Check out these links for snapshots of current research on the relationship between language and math, vocabulary strategies to use in the math classroom, and tips for helping your ELL students meet the challenges of learning English and math at the same time. |
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| December Newsletter Theme: Pattern Blocks |
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 Most educators agree that learning math concepts through exploration with manipulatives should be an integral part of any instructional program. Next month's Class Ideas focuses on pattern blocks, a highly engaging way to learn the math concepts needed to meet current math standards. We'll have a great article by Dr. Paul Swan and Geoff White, downloadable activity pages from Didax's new "Pattern Block Book," and (you guessed it) a subscriber-only special. See you then! |
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