It is essential for students to have a solid academic language in order to fully understand mathematics concepts. We have to keep in mind that all of our students are math language learners! One of components of academic language is Tier 3 vocabulary. It is necessary for our math language learners that teachers provide explicit vocabulary instruction. There are 9 steps that I have found that successful in mathematics vocabulary instruction. 1. There is a lot of Tier 3 vocabulary that is aligned to each mathematical concept. Teachers need to determine which concept specific vocabulary is the most important to focus on with students. 2. Our students come into our classrooms with previous learning & we should not assume that they come "as a blank slate". We need to know which concepts or standards are aligned with our upcoming instruction and then investigate what is the vocabulary they are already familiar with or already know. This vocabulary might be from a previously concept unit or previous grade level. 3. It is important to determine which vocabulary is new to the grade level because teachers should not assume that students will understand what we are discussing. We need to make input comprehensible and being aware of vocabulary that will be introduced for the first time will let teachers figure out how to make themselves understood when students are unfamiliar with some vocabulary.
4. A popular suggestion is that teachers front load vocabulary before the lesson begins. However, in mathematics if we front load the vocabulary we might inadvertently take away students math learning. What we should do before the lesson is review vocabulary that they have learned in previous grade levels. We can use this opportunity to preview the upcoming concept by making connection to previous lessons, cognates, and examples of the vocabulary. Previewing/reviewing vocabulary will help activate students' schema, build up their confidence, and set the stage for new learning. 5. During the lesson teachers should help students determine the meaning of new grade level vocabulary in context. This does not mean putting up a word list and defining the list. The students & teacher should choral read or echo read the vocabulary when it comes up as text is read. Then, the teacher should pause to describe the multiple meaning of the word and the meaning of the word as it relates to the task. The teacher can then take time to show real life items or examples that help students understand the meaning of the word. Next, the class should work together to create a common definition and a visual/example that represents the meaning of the word. These steps will help students remember the meaning of the word because now they have taken ownership in the process. 6. As the lesson continues, it is important for students to have multiple opportunities to use the vocabulary in order to solidify their understanding of the vocabulary and the math concept. Students should use language frames and word banks during peer conversations and written tasks. 7. Once the lesson wraps up, the students should play a large role in reviewing what they learned during the lesson. This share time is a great opportunity for students to look at their work and reflect on lesson conversations and share the meaning of newly learned vocabulary. 8. Vocabulary from the lesson should be posted as part of a word wall. The teacher and the student can reference & interact with the word wall throughout the year as needed. A math word wall is composed on concept unit specific word banks. Each word should be clearly written and accompanied by a visual or example. 9. Students need multiple opportunities during the concept unit and school year to use current and past vocabulary when listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Bingo and charade type games are examples of ways students can continuously use the vocabulary. Students can also use apps such as Flipgrid and Seesaw to respond to teacher questions and reply to each other using their math vocabulary.
3 Comments
Debbie Boden
11/1/2019 04:36:23 am
Hi!
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11/20/2019 07:31:21 pm
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Debbie Boden
11/20/2019 08:47:44 pm
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