Words That Work: Building Math Vocabulary & Discourse
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Words matter in math! In this session, participants will explore how strong vocabulary and meaningful discourse support student understanding across grades K–5. Teachers will learn engaging strategies for introducing, practicing, and using mathematical language through discussion, games, and routines. Participants will leave with practical tools to help students talk, reason, and make sense of math with confidence.
Use this link to access a vocabulary spreadsheet for each grade level.
These materials weren't covered in the session, but are good resources to support math discourse and vocabulary:
- Steve Wyborney's Esti-Mystery develops number sense, estimating skills, reasoning, mathematical vocabulary and mental math strategies for all grade levels-- https://stevewyborney.com/2022/10/170-new-esti-mysteries/
- Math Talk Pictures gathered from Kristin & Emily to use to develop math discourse, great for all grade levels (be sure to check back frequently for updates!)--Math Talk Pictures
- National Geographic is a great resource for pictures to use during math talk, great for all grade levels--https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography
- Which One Doesn't Belong develops justification and reasoning skills, great for all grade levels--https://wodb.ca/
- Would You Rather asks students to choose a path and justify it with math, great for all grade levels--https://www.wouldyourathermath.com/
- Open Middle Resources provides activities and resources for students to justify their thinking, great for math enrichment because it generally requires a higher depth of knowledge--https://www.openmiddle.com/
- Thinking Tasks are problem-solving tasks that your students tackle in groups to problem-solve and work through their thinking. The thinking tasks listed below are from teachers around the US and the author of Building Thinking Classrooms, Peter Liljedahl.
- Non-Curricular
- Curricular
- Building Thinking Classroom tasks
- Two Truths and a Lie is a game kids have been playing orally for years. It's only now been turned into a math activity to promote mathematical reasoning and constucting viable arguments.
This session includes the following documents:
- Fraction_Workmat.pdf
- Multiplication_Workmat__1_.pdf
- Vocabulary_Workmat.pdf