1. Things All Math Teachers Should Know About Vocabulary
Presented by:
Julie Frawley, Math Collaborative Planner
Jennifer Lake, Literacy Collaborative Planner
St. Croix River Education District
AA video- partners – 1 takes notes on active engagement, 1 takes notes on vocabulary instruction, discuss
Components of vocabulary instruction
4 parts of vocabulary instruction
Word sorts
Frayer
Venn diagrams

2. Vocabulary Review
Anita Archer demonstrates vocabulary review in an 8th grade math class
Partner activity: active engagement and vocabulary
White boards gets all involved
Walks around the room
Choral response
Activities: start with modeling, have students practice (I do, we do, you do)
Partner check strategy

3. Components of Effective Vocabulary Instruction
An advance organizer
Consistent instructional process
Well-organized instruction
Time dedicated to important academic words
Visual representation of the words being taught
Written record
Kinsella,
Advance organizer can be a list of words, graphic organizer, or other cue to help students focus what they are expected to learn
Written record- consider journal, math notebook, etc. where students keep a list of all vocabulary terms. A word wall is another option

4. 4 Parts to Vocabulary Instruction
Introduce Word
Write word on board
Say word and have students repeat.
Introduce Meaning for word: Student Friendly Definition
The largest number that is possible is the maximum. So, in a group of numbers, the largest number is called the ___________.

5. 4 Parts to Vocabulary Instruction (cont.)
Provide Examples
The money you and four friends have in your pocket is as follows: $13, $20, $1, $5, $12. The maximum is $20.
The vertex of the parabola that opens downward is the maximum value of the function.
Check for Understanding
If you have a set of numbers, how would you find the maximum?
If you are looking at a graph how do you find a maximum value?
Tell your partner a time when you needed to determine a maximum.

6. Websites for student-friendly definitions and student reference
Icoach Math provides an extensive dictionary that includes examples and visuals. ation.html
Study Geek provides tutorials and lessons a variety of math concepts and includes a math vocabulary section.
The McGraw-Hill eGlossary provides defintions sorted by grade level. Students can click on the speaker icon to have words and definitions read.
A Maths Dictionary for Kids is an animated, interactive online math dictionary.

7. Hands-On Activities
Word Sort
Frayer

8. Word Sort End or beginning of chapter
Teacher must stand back and allow students to brainstorm categories
How:
Provide word list
Have students look for what words have in common
Have students separate based on what they find in common
Have students label each group as a category
Remind students to have justifications for grouping
Have students share out
Inside Words: Tools for Teaching Academic Vocabulary, Janet Allen, 2007

9. Frayer
Definition Characteristics A polygon with three sides Three sides Three angles Angles add up to 180 degrees Right, isosceles, scalene Obtuse, acute, equilateral Examples/models Non-examples Right Triangle
TRIANGLE

10. Venn Diagrams Algebra: Graphs: Statistics: Geometry: Number Sense
Place the multiples
of 2 & 3 into the
Venn Diagram.
Venn Diagrams
MULTIPLE
OF 2
Algebra:
Number sets
Equation & expression
Graphs:
Linear & quadratic
Trig functions
Statistics:
Different graphic displays
Mean, median, mode
Geometry:
Polygons
Theorems & postulates
2-d & 3-d
Number Sense
Multiples
2, 4, 8, 10, 14, 16
6, 12, 18
3, 9, 15
MULTIPLE
OF 3