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The Complete Guide to Teaching Math Vocabulary

By Mary Montero

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I am a firm believer that students in the upper grades can be expected to use precise math vocabulary. This means they know the difference between conceptual and computational errors, they fluently use words like “sum” and “product,” and they read decimals with tenths and hundreds instead of points. The more we can incorporate this seamlessly into our instruction and conversation, the more automatic it will become for students. Now, I never call out my students for using informal math vocabulary. However, just like we practice reading fluency, it’s important to me that we practice math fluency as well! 

Download Everything You Need– for free!

This free PDF guide will allow you to have all of the math vocabulary resources right at your fingertips.

Why it’s important to use correct, precise math vocabulary:

• It increases student comprehension and ability to tackle math word problems
• It improves performance on standardized tests (which almost always use proper, precise math vocabulary)
• It gives every child a little knowledge boost as they progress through the grade levels
• It increases conceptual understanding of math concepts

A special note: Please note that I have used these strategies and expectations with all students, but students needing extra support or English Language Learners may need additional scaffolds, support, and accommodations. I never call out a student for using informal math vocabulary.

Important Math Vocabulary Lessons

I infuse proper math vocabulary into all of my lessons, but I do teach three explicit lessons on the skill.

Lesson #1: Expression vs. Equation

We dissect the words expression and equation. You’ll see in the anchor chart below that  “Express” is underlined under Expression and “Equa” is underlined under Equation. Expressions are short, hence the “express” and “equa” is similar to equal. This helps my students remember the difference and infuses a bit of word study as well.

Lesson #2: Conceptual vs. Computational Understanding

I teach this lesson in relation to analyzing errors in your work, but it’s essential. When students have me check a piece of work, and I tell them it’s wrong, I will always tell them whether it’s computational or conceptual, which requires them to understand the difference between the two. If it’s computational, I typically don’t do a lot of reteaching. If it’s a conceptual error, I know I need to help them with the concept. This also makes them highly aware of their gaps in knowledge – there is a big difference between making computational mistakes and not understanding the concept. Don’t skip this lesson!

Lesson #3: Formal vs. Informal Math Talk 

The upper grades, we do a fun little lesson about formal vs. informal math talk. We discuss that it’s perfectly fine to occasionally use informal math talk, but the more we use formal math talk, the more automatic it will become (just like informal math talk!). Here are the math topics I focus on the most:

• Operations: I constantly ask my students what OPERATION they used to solve the problem. When asking them about their answer, I’m always sure to ask “What the sum/difference/product/quotient.”
• Decimal Points: We read 2.34 as two and thirty-four hundredths , not two point three four
• Reading Whole numbers: We don’t use and when reading larger numbers, specifically because that’s how we read decimal numbers, and we don’t want to get in that habit early on.
• Reading Fractions: We refer to the top number as the numerator and the bottom number as the denominator .
• Greater than and Less Than: As students get older, they should fluently be able to read statements using <,>, and =
• Regroup and Decompose: It’s really hard to break the habit of saying “borrow,” but they aren’t borrowing numbers, they are regrouping them.
• Improper Fractions and Fractions Greater than One: This is newer, and one I still accidentally use sometimes! 
• Reduced and Simplified Fractions: I use both terms interchangeable, BUT I make sure that students understand that we are not reducing the size of a fraction when we simplify. 
• Geometry Terms: I’m a stickler for this one too – those aren’t corner. Those are vertices! 
• Dimensions: Make it a point to teach this term and how to read dimensions. This is hugely important as students learn about area and perimeter (other terms you should always use). 
• Digits vs. Numbers: This is akin to understanding that letters make up words. Digits make up numbers, and it’s important that students understand the difference.

More Math Vocabulary Practice

The free PDF guide includes extra practice for 145 math vocabulary terms!

Excellent Books for Teaching Math Vocabulary and Skills

I created an  Amazon Affiliate List of my favorite math picture books . The free PDF includes activity suggestions to use with some of the books to make teaching math vocabulary lessons easier!

Related Blog Posts

• Teaching Precise Math Vocabulary
• Analyzing Errors
• Teaching Domain Specific Vocabulary

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Mary Montero

I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.

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Build Strong Math Vocabulary Skills Using These Simple Strategies

Learning new vocabulary is a fundamental part of understanding math concepts. Use these strategies to build both fluency and engagement.

Math class doesn’t seem like the most obvious choice for word walls, glossary lists, and word of the day games. But a strong understanding of math terms is essential for mastering concepts—meaning strategies for building robust vocabulary are surprisingly useful. 

Recently, fifth-grade math teacher Kathleen Palmieri began to wonder how well her students understood the complex terms used in textbooks and word problems. So she performed some action research by pulling out 10 key terms—including exponent, base, equivalent, and estimate—and asked students to define those terms using words or numbers, she writes in a recent piece for MiddleWeb . About 40 percent of her kids could write a basic definition, exposing significant gaps in conceptual fluency.

“What I discovered in my students’ responses was that learning math terminology is more than studying a list of words,” she said, concluding that regular practice with new math terminology facilitates mathematical discourse and understanding. “It is much more of an architecture of learning where concepts need to be explored and a pathway of understanding needs to be blazed before a mathematical term can be attached to establish true meaning.”

Here are a few of the ways Palmieri and other teachers “immerse students in the language of math”—while keeping student engagement high. 

1. Let students do the defining: Students need to contextualize words before they can understand them, and need repeated exposure to them before they sink in. 

As an alternative to Palmieri’s baseline assessment, have students pull out the key terms they think will be important later. Literacy specialist Rebecca Alber asked her students to skim a chapter from a textbook and identify their own vocabulary list . Students would then rate each term by whether they “know it,” “sort of know it,” or “don't know it at all.” Afterward, they wrote out a definition or took their best guess at the term’s meaning.

“Before they turn in these pre-reading charts, be sure to emphasize this is not about ‘being right,’” she advised. “They are providing you with information to guide next steps in class vocabulary instruction.”

Similarly, Palmieri provides some introductory context and asks students to add to an expanding glossary. Research has largely dispelled the practice of writing out memorized definitions from textbooks, so Palmieri takes a different tack. Students take an active role in coming up with definitions based on their learning. As students learn more about the terms and how they’re used, they update definitions. At the end of the lesson, to consolidate learning, it may prove helpful to review all the terms as a class.

2. Get creative with word walls: Instead of writing terms on a word wall and hanging it up for students to glance at, Palmieri has students write terms on colorful Post-Its and affix them to bulletin boards. She also gets great engagement from letting students use art supplies to creatively show what they’ve learned: “Bubble letters, examples of problems and definitions with graphics are truly fun ‘math’ activities,” she explains. “Students present and explain their term and then proudly display their poster in the classroom.” 

Unlike static word walls, these strategies involve principles of constructivism , an active and social learning theory where learners build on previous knowledge and create new learning themselves. As students learn new concepts, they can define terms in real-time, make adjustments as the concepts deepen, and hang them around the classroom for others to learn from.

3. Make it a game: Math instruction doesn’t have to be drab, says Palmieri. You can introduce familiar word games like Pictionary, where students draw out clues and others try to guess the concept. She also plays a game called “What’s My Term?” where “students verbally give clues as others listen.” 

Likewise, language specialist and Harvard lecturer Rebecca Rolland suggests a game where students show they know what terms mean by listing “non-examples” of things they are studying. For instance, acute angles can look “‘sharp’ but not ‘curvy’ or ‘wavy’ or ‘square,’” she says. Ask students to come up with creative non-examples and explain their thought processes. “That same acute angle might look like a door that’s partly shut, but not like a smile or a cloud.” 

Still others play match games with index cards face down on a table, or encourage students to create definitions that rhyme or fit to music. In these cases, the game itself is perhaps less important than the act of engaging students to commit the terms to memory. 

4. Word(s) of the day: To reinforce specific concepts, Palmieri has the class come up with a word of the day or week, depending on the duration of the lesson. Students count how often the word is used and in which contexts (e.g., in word problems, during class discussion, in small group activities). 

Inspired by research she had done that suggested students need to use a word between six and 30 times to truly learn it, sixth-grade teacher Megan Kelly began picking three words to focus on for a day and reviewing the terms at the start of class. During class, she emphasizes the words herself, and asks students to use the words as many times as they can with a partner. 

“I used the words a ton in my directions and made a big deal whenever I heard a student say one of our goal words,” she says. “Everyone wants to be in on the fun, so each time I praised someone for using the word, there was an increase in others using them too.”

5. Break down word problems: Word problems are notoriously difficult, especially when challenging language obscures the intent of the question. Before students solve word problems numerically, Palmieri has the whole class perform a close read for sense-making. Together they pull out key words and create a written response. Working out word problems as a group is a well-established strategy. Teachers at Concourse Village Elementary School in New York City use a 3-read protocol : First, they read the word problem aloud to the class without numbers, then students read the complete problem on their own and pull out key terms before reading it together as a class. The 3-read protocol clarifies “what they’re reading and helps to build their fluency,” says Blair Pacheco, a teacher who has used the strategy with her students.

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Math Words (Vocabulary List, Teaching Ideas, and Free Printables)

Must-know terms for grades K-6.

So much of math teaching is actually language teaching as well. There are quite a few math vocabulary words kids must understand in order to learn math concepts. It’s like a whole other language! That’s where these free printable math vocabulary lists and cards come in handy.

There are two lists: one for grades K-3 and one for grades 4-6. Each set of words is organized by concept strand and then alphabetized for easy use. There will be some overlap and you may find, depending on your class, that you will use words from both lists.

The printable cards are great for creating a word wall and for a variety of learning activities. As you introduce a concept, consider adding each new vocabulary word to the word wall. In fact, some teachers like to add pictures or examples to the word wall. You could do this or invite students to take turns helping to “manage” and “enhance” the word wall. Then use the cards for some of the activities below to engage and excite students about learning the “language of math.”

Math Vocabulary for Grades K-3

Math vocabulary for grades 4-6.

Activities Using Math Word Lists and Cards

Numbers and Operations

add, addition, addend, all, amount

classify, column, combine, compare, compute, count

difference, digit, division, double

each, equal, equivalent, estimate, exact, expanded, extra information

fact, factor, fewer, first (second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth)

greater than, group ADVERTISEMENT

identify, increase, instead

least, left over, less

many, match, middle, minuend, minus, missing, model, more, multiplication, multiply

number, number line, numeral

place value (ones, tens, hundreds, thousands), plus, product

regroup, related facts, Roman numerals, rounding

same, sign, skip-count, solve, subtract, subtraction, sum

Geometry and Spatial Relations

alike, angle, area, attribute blocks

center, circle, closed, cone, congruent, connect, construct, corner, corresponding, cube, curve, curved, cylinder

edge, end point

face, figure, flat, flip

hexagon, horizontal

on, open, outside

parallelogram, pentagon, point

rectangle, root, rotate, round, ruler

same shape, same size, segment, side, size, solid, sphere, square, stairs, straight, symmetry (line of symmetry)

tessellation, tile, tilt, triangle, tube, turn

whole, width

Measurement

apart, area

capacity, Celsius, centimeter (cm), cubic unit

decimeter (dm), degree, dimension, distance, dozen

Fahrenheit, feet, foot

gallon (gal), gram (g)

kilogram (kg), kiloliter (kl), kilometer (km)

length, linear unit, liter (l)

measure, measurement, meter (m), meter stick, metric unit, mile, milligram (mg), milliliter (ml), millimeter (mm)

perimeter, pint, pound

rectangular, ruler

tablespoon, teaspoon, temperature, thermometer

weight, width

yard, yardstick

after, afternoon, a.m., analog

before, birthday, breakfast

calendar, clock (long hand, short hand)

daily, date, days, days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday), digital

early, evening

half hour, hour

midday, minute, minutes, month, months (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December), morning

night, noon

quarter hour

season, seasons, second, seconds

time, today, tomorrow, tonight

watch, week

year, yesterday

cent, change, cost

dime, dollar

half-dollar

save, sell, spend

Data Analysis

picture graph

actual, adjacent, alternative, approximately, array, associative property, at least, at most

calculate, cardinal, common multiple, composite number

decimal, decimal point, determine, distributive property, dividend, divisor

extrapolate

geometric pattern

if … then, infinite set, insufficient information

magic square, member, multiple, multiplication, multiplier

natural number, natural order

place value, prime, prime factorization, problem, product, property, proportion

ratio, remainder, repeating decimal, rule

score, statement

terminate, times

altitude, angle (acute, obtuse, right), arc, axis

circle (center, diameter, radius, semicircle), compass, construction, coordinates

diagonal, diagram

image, intersect

line, line of symmetry, line segment

parallel, perimeter, perpendicular, pi, plane, polygon, population density, prism (square, triangular), pyramid (square, triangular)

quadrilateral (kite, rhombus, parallelogram)

radius, ray, reallotment, reflections, rotations (half-turn, quarter-turn)

scale drawing, semicircle, similar, surface area, symmetrical, symmetry

translation, trapezoid, triangle (equilateral, right, isosceles, scalene)

vertex, view (front, side, top)

gallon (gal), graduated, gross

perimeter, protractor

scale, square foot, square inch, square meter, square mile

Earth rotation (day), Earth orbit (year)

month (moon)

cash, currency

withdraw, withdrawal

broken-line graph

descriptive statistics

equally likely events

factor tree, frequency

generalization

inference, interpolate, interpret

line graph, line plot

mean, median, midway, mode

ordered pair, outcome

probability

random range, ratio

sample, scale drawing, simple event, statistics

Activities Using the Math Word List and Cards

What Is It?

Give each student a white board or a piece of paper and something to write with. As you introduce a word, for example “square,” hold up the vocabulary card and ask, “What is this? Can you draw it or write an example?” You can use almost any words, such as addition equation, two-digit number, quadrilateral, sum, and so on.

Some words might require more words, numbers, and/or drawings. Make sure students understand by doing a couple of examples. After you ask the question and show the word card, take a walk around to look at and have students share their responses.

Math Word Concentration

Using index cards, write a vocabulary word on one and on another an example or picture. On the back of each pair, write the same number. Make at least 10 pairs depending on the concept you are working on.

Mix the cards up and put them face down on a table or floor with a dividing line between words on one side and examples on the other (a piece of yarn works well here). Have students take turns flipping two cards over trying to find a match of word card and example card. You can play as individuals or teams.

It’s a lot of fun and a great learning experience to have students make their own card sets to share with the class.

Math Clue Cards

Using the cards created for Concentration (see above), choose a word card and describe or give clues to the targeted word. For example, for the word “square,” you might say, “It has four sides, all four sides are straight, all four sides are of equal length.” Demonstrate this a few times, and then let students take turns picking cards and supplying clues.

Can You Use It in a Sentence?

Using the Concentration cards again, put the cards in a stack, face down. Have a student turn over the top card and use the word in a sentence that demonstrates understanding. For example, let’s say a student picks the word “Add.” An acceptable sentence that shows understanding could be, “When I add 2 + 2, I get a sum of 4.” An unacceptable answer, one that doesn’t show understanding, would be, “I like to add.” Give these as examples so everyone understands the criteria for a good answer.

You can play this as a class, small group, or partners.

Math Word Bingo

Prepare bingo cards or sheets with the math vocabulary words you want students to practice.  For younger students, a bingo card with eight spaces is a good start. For older students, the card can have up to 25 spaces (with a “Free Space” in the center).

There are a few ways to play. You could start by having a helper student pick a card from a pile and read it out loud. Players mark that square with whatever token you’d like to use. Once they have a row or column filled in, they call out, “Math Bingo!”

Another way to play is to call out a definition or example and have players hunt for the math vocabulary word that matches the example. You could also reverse that by preparing cards with examples and having helpers call out the vocabulary words. There are lots of ways to have fun with this game!

Get Your Free Math Vocabulary Word Printables

Print copies of the word list and cards to keep on hand for word walls, teaching examples, and for games and activities like the ones described above.

Plus, find a treasure trove of math articles on our Math Topics page !

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What Is a Word Wall?

A wall with words on it, right? Yes, and so much more. Continue Reading

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Math Vocabulary Cards

Deepen understanding of key terms in mathematics with written and visual definitions. 

Math Vocabulary Cards helps students deepen their conceptual understanding of key terms in mathematics. Each card features three sections: a math term, a representative example or model, and a concise definition. Each section can be hidden or revealed, providing multiple options for practice. Vocabulary cards can be selected individually or by category and are available in both English and Spanish.

This virtual version of our Word Resource Cards is an open-ended educational tool, ideal for elementary classrooms and other learning environments that use laptops, iPads, Chromebooks, and Windows devices.

These key mathematical terms and visual models are featured throughout  Bridges in Mathematics , second and third editions. Online preview available .

App Features

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• Select cards by category (e.g., fractions, geometry) or individually.
• Cards are automatically sorted in random order.
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Teaching Math Vocabulary that Sticks

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For math to be accessible to students, math vocabulary must be taught! Let’s talk about teaching math vocabulary in a way that sticks!

Let’s see how important math vocabulary is to understanding and solving this problem. Could you solve this problem? I covered up a vital piece of information needed to solve this problem to emulate what a student might experience without knowing the vocabulary necessary to solve.

Model Using the Math Language

If we want students to use the words we are teaching, we need to practice using it ourselves. Vocabulary requires exposure. Using the words as frequently as possible, students will hear  the words as frequently as possible, increasing their comfort with the words.

If a student uses a vocabulary word incorrectly, then make sure to correct it. “Bottom number” is a “denominator.”

As teachers, we can jump ahead to the solving of a problem, but using the STAAR test question above, we should start by asking students – “What does surface area mean?”

Annotating word problems or questions is also a way to practice math vocabulary. Anytime we read the word “percent,” we wrote “/100” to remember that percent meant “out of 100.”Let’s look at another math vocabulary rich problem: 

Here are some questions you can ask to practice that math vocabulary. 

• What makes a number an integer?
• Is -53 an integer?
• What does absolute value mean?

Get Ahead By Previewing Vocabulary

If you are a Texas teacher, you can use this excellent document that will show you which vocabulary words are new to the grade level as well as words from previous grade levels. This is a great place to start for a word wall. 

• 6th grade 

Previewing the vocabulary for an upcoming unit is a great place to start when teaching math vocabulary. In my experience, students copying definitions killed the energy in class, but offering students a “kid-friendly” definition that you referenced daily and had them practice (using some of the ideas in this post) was much more successful. 

Display a Word Wall

Update 7/28/2023: maneuvering the middle now has a middle school math + algebra 1 word wall..

As you can see in the video below, our Word Wall includes 190 essential math terms, their clear-cut definitions, and their visual representations.

We’ve included Spanish translations for all terms and definitions, ensuring a supportive and accessible learning experience for English Language Learners.

They were designed to be minimal prep and flexible to customize the formatting to suit your students’ unique needs.

Word walls are a vital part of any math classroom. You can learn more about word walls in this post .  If students are taking a brain break and staring off into space, they are likely staring at some math content. To have the most useful word wall, make sure words include a short definition, picture, and can be visible from the furthest spot in the classroom.

My word wall was constantly building. The wall started with 3 words in unit 1 and eventually built to just under 100 by the end of the school year. I purchased my sixth grade TEKS word wall here . 

Pointing out the addition of new words to the word wall and where students can access help if needed lets students know that the word wall is for their use! It is meant to be used!

Provide Opportunities to Use the Words in Context

When asking students questions, prompt the response to include vocabulary in their answer. This is the lowest lift, but it is so effective! Use a turn and talk and a cold call to get every student responding.

• Instead of: how do we divide fractions?
• Try: Using the word reciprocal, explain how we divide fractions.
• Instead of: What sides of the triangle are congruent?
• Try: Using the word congruent, describe what you notice about the sides of this triangle.

I read that you need to use a new word about 10 times before you remember it!  Teaching math vocabulary is something that you build into your instruction.

Fun Practice for Spiraling Definitions

To keep vocabulary and definitions fresh, use any of these activities in the last few minutes of class:

• Flyswatter Games – If you want students to get familiar with your word wall, use the Flyswatter Game.  This is a very engaging review game. If you are like me and don’t bother to cover up anything in your room before a test, this will help remind students where to look when they are stuck.  Two students face off with fly swatters in hand.  You give them a prompt such as “2, 4, 6, 8” are examples of ______” And the first student to swat the word ‘multiples’ earns their team a point.
• Flashlight Game -This game is great for those last few minutes of class as a sponge activity.  Turn off the lights and use a flashlight to point to a word on the wall.  Students can then shout out an example, the definition, or even a counter-example. 
• Guess the Word – I played this in a PD, and immediately implemented it in my classroom. One student stands with the white board behind them facing the rest of the classroom. You write (or have a slide deck prepared) a vocabulary word behind the student. Students in the classroom take turns giving the students hints to what vocabulary word is written behind them. You see how many words the student can guess in a given amount of time. 
• Quizziz or Kahoot – Both have a vast library of vocabulary rich games.

How do you teach math vocabulary to your students?

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5 Math Vocabulary Activities for Primary Learners

How do you teach math vocabulary in your classroom? When you think of the word vocabulary, ELA is the subject that comes to most people’s minds. However, I want to share my passion with you about also teaching the importance of it during your math instruction! Below, I will share some strategies and activities you can use to focus on the significance of math vocabulary with your students.

If you’re not already familiar with Marzano’s Six Step Process , I would highly suggest looking over it for your vocabulary instruction. In this specific blog post , I mention how I use it during my reading block, but it’s also an effective method for math vocabulary!

Before we dive in, one of the big things I want you to take away from vocabulary instruction is the importance of students explaining terms using their OWN definitions. You don’t just want students reciting textbook definitions back to you without fully understanding the concept of it.

“ To effectively teach mathematical vocabulary, consider what foundational knowledge should they already know to understand the terms being taught and how they will be assessed.” (The Art & Science of Teaching, R. Marzano)

There are 3 different types of vocabulary words within mathematical concepts.

• Ex: how, many, and more.
• Ex: exact, complete, connect, item
• Ex: area, array, regrouping

Keep in mind that when looking over your mathematical vocabulary that goes with your lesson, which tier does it fall into…1, 2, or 3? That will help you decide what kind of instruction needs to be used with those words. You might have 2 or 3 words that your kids are already pretty familiar with that you don’t need to review as much, whereas these new terms that students are not as familiar with will need more exposure to.

Below are 5 different activity ideas that you can use to introduce or review vocabulary words with students during your math instruction time!

1. Graphic Organizers

I love using graphic organizers when introducing vocabulary words. The one seen below may look familiar to you. Even though it seems super simple, it truly is an effective way to help students better understand mathematical terminology. You can grab this exact one HERE!

You’ve probably seen something like this before used for reading vocabulary and while this one is somewhat similar it does have its differences. While in an ELA block, you might ask for a synonym or antonym, but in math you want students to demonstrate an example and a non-example.

As you are working through this graphic organizer, I just want to remember that you don’t have to complete everything in one day for every word. That could take forever!

Break it down into chunks for better understanding for your students. For example, on day 1 you could have students draw a picture for each of the vocabulary words. On day 2, you can go over and review definitions and have students write the definitions in their own words.

Once your students become familiar with these graphic organizers and become familiar with the activity, they could do it as a math station. That way it doesn’t take up too much of your whole group instruction time.

2. Pocket Chart Sorts

Pocket chart sorts can help students distinguish the characteristics that define a concept in a simple way. Something like this that has pictures really benefits your ELL students where they can put an image with a concept. It helps students visualize and see what they are and what they are not!

You can use pocket charts with shapes, place value blocks, time, money, and more! Once you do this whole group, you can put an activity like this in a math station. Students will be getting that valuable vocabulary practice without even realizing it.

3. Mile a Minute

This is one of my favorite games to play with students. Here’s how it works:

• Place students into teams
• Provide a list of words related to a specific concept
• Call on a student to come to the front. They must read the words related to the concept.
• The first team to guess the concepts gets a point.

I’ve done this several different ways. For example, you can put all the words on the board at one time and have students come up and read them out loud. Another way to play this game is to pull up a blank PowerPoint or have words written on an index card and only show one word at a time. The possibilities are endless with this and it’s such a great way to review those math vocab words!

4. Mathematical Conversations

If you’re a member of Managing Math Stations , you know how much I preach the importance of having mathematical conversations with your students on a daily basis.

You might have a kid who can answer a question correctly on paper, but to have them explain something using their own words is so valuable. You’re not going to know that they fully understand the concept unless you’re having mathematical conversations with them.

Something that I’m constantly using to have these mathematical conversations are these math comprehension question stem cards. I keep them on a ring at my small group station as well as up by my desk so that I have quick access to them whenever needed!

As you are having these important math discussions, include targeted vocabulary as part of the question. For example, What does it mean to partition a fraction? Always ask for an explanation and justification , as well. This way you are truly gaining an understanding of where your student is with their learning.

5. Math Word Wall

Last, but not least, have some sort of math word wall for your students to reference. You can do one inside of your classroom or in the hallway like the one below!

If you don’t have enough wall space to do an entire word wall, feel free to use other important graphics such as anchor charts and printable visuals. You can keep them up for long periods of time or switch them out according to what lesson you are teaching.

As you can see, there are SO many different ways to help practice those math vocabulary skills! You can see all of the strategies mentioned here in my Math Vocabulary Facebook Live Video.

Don’t forget to download your FREE math vocabulary graphic organizer to use with your students by filling out the form below!

Feel free to pin the image below to save this post for later!

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Math Vocabulary Words Are Important: Here's How to Teach Them

Written by Alison Smith

Math and vocabulary words may not seem like they go together in the same sentence for some people. But if you’re teaching math, that means you need to be teaching your students math vocabulary words too.

Why Is Vocabulary Important in Math?

The word “vocabulary” may call to mind ELA, but math has a language of its own with unfamiliar terms that can trip students up. Think of math as a fast-paced sport (stay with us!).

Most sports include some unusual lingo — let’s use basketball as an example. The fast-paced nature of basketball can make learning the language of hoops even more of a challenge. If you’ve ever been assigned to coach basketball as an extracurricular sport, you’ll know that there’s little point in asking your students to  fast break  the ball down the court,  post up, layup,  or ally-oop  unless there is a clear understanding of what these technical terms mean.

Get started with math vocabulary posters for your classroom !

With this analogy in mind, imagine being a student lost in a fast-paced math lesson, confused by the language and the terminology. Even with the best intentions, your confused student is soon going to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and defeated.

So why is math vocabulary so important to teach? Understanding math vocabulary has a correlation to better problem-solving and conceptual understanding of math itself. After all, how can you supply an answer when you don’t know what the question is actually asking!

Also at issue? Math vocabulary is also loaded down with homophones that can easily confuse students who don’t know what they mean in the mathematical context. Just look at the word “mean!” For students, the vocabulary word can refer to a dictionary definition or meaning or it can refer to someone who isn’t be very nice. But when they pull out their math books, suddenly mean … well … means something very different! This is true of all learners, but it can present a special roadblock for English language learners.

A place value bulletin board like this one provides a visual reference for students to remember important math vocabulary. 

Look around the classroom. Do you have students in your classroom who do not respond to questions in math class? Perhaps you can think of students who demonstrate knowledge and understanding of math concepts in class, but do not perform well on math tests? Or maybe, you have a student who performs exceptionally in non-verbal reasoning tests but does not show the same ability when solving word problems?

There are three main ways in which your students’ failure to understand math vocabulary may show itself:

• not responding to questions and seeming disengaged
• unable to complete tasks that are heavy on written instruction
• unable to apply knowledge and understanding in math tests

How to Teach Math Vocabulary

In order to set our students up for success, they need regular planned opportunities to read, unpack, and use math vocabulary. Here are some simple ideas to make math vocabulary stick.

Set Up a Math Vocabulary Bulletin Board

Math anchor charts and math bulletin boards dedicated to vocabulary are both a great start as visual reminders reinforce your math vocabulary lessons.

We used our   editable math vocabulary word wall cards to create this eye-catching math bulletin board. Remember to refer to your board daily, discuss the vocabulary, and make it part of your daily routine to pick a word and explore it!

Support Your Students with Vocabulary Binder Rings

We used our   Math – Classroom Theme Pack  editable name tags to create these effective math vocabulary binder rings to help students make links between math vocabulary related to the four operations . You could create binder rings with math vocabulary words for each student if you’ve got extra time, or you can create just a few that hang from hooks in the room where they’re easy for students to access for reference.

Punch-Out Math Terminology

Are you looking for a way to support both kinesthetic and visual learners who need to understand math vocabulary to succeed?

Take away the fear of mathematical terminology by using fun hand gestures to represent the four operations. Using hand gestures is a great way to reinforce teaching and learning and to help make student thinking more visible. This kind of teaching and learning technique makes me smile on the inside.

One of the hardest things about solving word problems is unpacking the words and identifying the math operation(s) needed to find the solution. Students need practice at both reading and interpreting word problems and identifying the operation required. Worry about the actual answer later on!

How to use this technique:

• Introduce a hand gesture and sound effect for each of the four mathematical operations. Choose easy-to-remember actions and short, sharp sound effects.
• Familiarize your students with these gestures by using them during daily math lessons. Whenever you use the words “addition,” “subtraction,” “multiplication,” or “division,” encourage your students to make the hand gesture and sound effect.
• Provide your class with a selection of word problem task cards that involve the four operations.
• Ask your students to work with a partner, taking turns to read the word problem and identify the math operation needed to solve the problem.
• Encourage your students to make the gesture and sound effect as soon as they identify the operation needed to solve each word problem. Make it fast-paced and fun!

Explore these word problem task cards to support this activity!

[resource:4696645] [resource:4800595] [resource:4803293]

Create a Math Terminology Word Search

Why not give your students a brain break from numbers? You can create a custom math vocabulary word search by using our Create Your Own Word Search Widget .

How to do it:

• Select Widgets from the home menu.
• Find and select Create Your Own Word Search
• Add a title.
• Enter a list of words that you would like to appear in your word search.
• Select a board size and font.
• Choose “yes” or “no” to including diagonals.

If you are teaching and learning about vocabulary related to measurement, it’s your lucky day! There’s a list of 45 measurement words, ready to go! Just select the appropriate word list from the drop-down menu (Custom List), and you are good to go.

Explore thousands of engaging digital and printable math resources created by teachers for teachers!

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Common Core Math Vocabulary: Your Ultimate Math Dictionary with Definitions

Find the math terms beginning with the letter:.

10 Engaging Math Vocabulary Activities For Middle School Students

The lambda of gamma is equal to the delta of a theta.

Did this sentence sound like gibberish to you? If yes, then chances are this is exactly what math classes sound like to someone who doesn’t understand what the terms being used actually mean.

While there are many math games available in this digital era, however, understanding math vocabulary is also an essential step and part of doing well in math. This blog highlights various class activities that help in learning, practicing, and retaining various mathematical terms, their use, and meanings.

Activities for mastering the math lingo

Math might not be the easiest subject to crack, but it can definitely be made fun with the use of various activities. Hence, similar to vocabulary games that help students become better with vocabulary, here is a list of several activities that can be used in the classroom to make learning about math vocabulary fun.

1. Math Scrabble

For this game, the educator will need several regular Scrabble sets. The students can be divided into groups of 4 students and be given one set each.

The goal of the students will be to get the highest points by using different letters and building on other students’ words. But the catch is that they can only make words related to math. The educator can also decide to award extra points for using math words recently learned in the class.

The students will have to keep track of scores, which will use their basic arithmetic skills, and they will be racking their brains for unique math-related words, which will exercise and enhance their math vocabulary.

2. Math Word Find

For this activity, the educator will have to prepare a word find with various mathematical terms hidden amongst random letters. They can easily prepare this sheet on Microsoft Word, Google Docs or any other writing software. 

The task of the students will be to find as many words as they can under a short and pre-decided amount of time, for example, 15 minutes. To help the students, the educator can also give several hints on the word find sheet. For example, if the hidden word is ‘line segment’, the educator can give a hint as “a line with two fixed endpoints”.

This game will break the monotony of regular lectures and introduce a fun new element to learning. Students will exercise their math vocabulary knowledge to find all the words before the time runs out.

3. Sort it out 

For this activity, the educator will have to decide on a theme. It could be anything number-related, like prime numbers and composite numbers, odd and even numbers, factors and multiples, etc.

The educator will then present a pouch full of number tiles from 1-100 to a student at random. The task of the student will be to randomly pick a number tile and place it in the correct pile. For example, if the theme is prime and composite numbers and the student picks the number tile 7, they will have to place that in the prime category.

This fun game does not require much preparation. The theme can be customized based on whatever topic is going on in the class, and it can be used to assess students’ actual understanding of the terms and concepts being used and taught.

4. Illustrate it 

For this activity, the educator will have to prepare a bowl full of chits with various mathematical terms written on them. The terms should not be simple shapes but instead related to mathematical operations and concepts like factorisation, lowest common multiple, etc.

The class will be divided into two teams with an equal number of students in each. The teams will then take turns sending one student up to pick a chit, read the turn, and illustrate it on the board, either with an example, a figure, or whatever is convenient to the student. The goal of the team member will be to have their team guess the concept on the chit in under 30 seconds. Whichever team correctly guesses the most illustrations will win the game.

This game will allow the students to compete with each other over their knowledge of math vocabulary and showcase it using illustrations. Additionally, while bringing in the LCM, teachers, and educators can also introduce some examples of concepts like LCM to make their understanding of the concept better. 

5. 3 clues 

For this activity as well, the educator will have to prepare a bowl full of mathematical terms. The terms could range from concepts like congruence to operations like multiplication and division to even shapes like pentagons and triangles.

The class will be divided into two teams with an equal number of students in each. The teams will take turns, sending one person at a time to pick a chit and give three clues to help their team guess the term. For example, if the term is a triangle, the clue could be a closed shape with three sides. The team that can guess the highest number of terms will win.

This game will help students revise their mathematical terms, both when they are guessing it as well as when they are giving hints about it.

6. Find your partner 

For this activity, the educator will have to prepare several pairs of cards. In each pair, one card will have the name of a mathematical concept, operation or term, and the other will have a fact related to it. 

One card will be placed under each student’s seat. The task of the students as soon as they pick up their own cards would be to look at their classmates’ cards and find their pair. For example, if a student gets a card titled Congruence, their pair could be a student who has a card describing the Side-Angle-Side rule of triangle congruence. The first two or three teams to find their pair could be awarded. This activity can also be supplemented with other activities to brush up the concept of triangle congruence.

This game will not only help students brush up their math vocabulary but will also help them revise various concepts they might have learned or are currently learning in class.

7. I object 

For this activity, the educator will have to prepare slides with various mathematical shapes and concepts written on them, like line segments, congruent triangles, hypotenuses, etc.

The class will be divided into two teams with an equal number of students in each. When it’s the first team’s turn, they’ll be presented with a term, and their task will be to come up with as many real-life examples of that term as possible in under 30 seconds. For example, a real-life example of a line segment could be a straight road, a tube light, a scale or ruler, etc.  

When the 30 seconds are up, the other team will be presented with another term, and their 30 seconds will be started. By the end of the game, whichever team is able to come up with the most real-life objects will be declared the winner.

This activity will help students apply mathematical, conceptual vocabulary to real-life objects, simultaneously aiding their understanding and recall of the same.

8. Finding letters

For this activity, the educator will have to prepare slides with several mathematical terms written on them. The catch will be that those terms will only have the first letter, the last letter and the total number of letters are visible.

The class will be divided into 4-5 teams with an equal number of students in each. The teams will take turns and will be shown a complete word, which they will have to complete either by guessing the letters or racking their brains for all the possible words that could fit. To make it easier for the students, the educator can allow them to guess 5 letters incorrectly or give a hint about the term mentioned.

This game will have students using their mental encyclopedia and dictionary full of mathematical terms throughout.

9. Buzz for it 

For this game, the educator will have to prepare slides with various math terms written on them and 3-4 facts related to those terms mentioned below.

The class can be divided into teams of two with an equal number of students in each. Each team will be given a buzzer. The task of the students will be to identify the false statement among the facts related to the mathematical term mentioned at the top of the slide. For example, if the term is a hexagon, the facts mentioned can be 

• It has 6 sides
• The sum of its interior angles is 580°
• It had 6 angles

In this example, the first team to point out that option b is false and also give the correct answer, which is 720°, will get the point. The team with the most points will be declared the winner.

This game will not only test students’ math vocabulary but also help them learn more about various terms and concepts.

10. The Alphabet Game

For this activity, the educator will have to get a ball and have the students stand or sit around in a circle.

The game will start with the alphabet A and progress in alphabetical order. The educator will randomly pass the ball to a student who will have to mention a mathematical term starting from the letter A  and define it as well. The student, once successful in stating and explaining the term, can then randomly pass the ball to another student. Any student who cannot come up with a term under 30 seconds will be out of the circle.

This game will help students revise concepts, come up with mathematical terms on the spot as well as learn and expand their math vocabulary by learning from each other.

Learning math requires the individual to first learn about the terms used while referring to different concepts, operations, etc. Math activities and games are always a fun way of making tough subjects like math easier to understand, recall and remember. Furthermore, when used in the right way, these activities can help students get better with the vocabulary of a daunting subject like Math! So, go on, play, and learn the concepts so that you can retain them for a lifetime! 

An engineer, Maths expert, Online Tutor and animal rights activist. In more than 5+ years of my online teaching experience, I closely worked with many students struggling with dyscalculia and dyslexia. With the years passing, I learned that not much effort being put into the awareness of this learning disorder. Students with dyscalculia often misunderstood for having  just a simple math fear. This is still an underresearched and understudied subject. I am also the founder of  Smartynote -‘The notepad app for dyslexia’, 

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5 Ways to use Flocabulary’s math video lessons

• April 11, 2024
• Flocabulary Team
• Implementation , Lessons and Ideas

Engaging students in math instruction can sometimes feel like a challenging equation to solve. How can educators make mathematical concepts come alive in a way that captivates and educates? Enter Flocabulary’s video-based lessons with activities that support vocabulary acquisition and comprehension skills. From basic arithmetic to complex geometry, Flocabulary offers a treasure trove of resources designed to transform math learning into an engaging and memorable experience. Let’s learn how to harness the power of Flocabulary to enhance math instruction, from incorporating word problems and real-life applications to mastering math facts and prioritizing vocabulary.

New to Flocabulary? Teachers can sign up for a trial to access our lesson videos and assessment activities. Administrators can get in touch with us to learn more about unlocking the full power of Flocabulary through Flocabulary Plus.

5 Tips for math instruction with Flocabulary

1. word problems.

Word problems are a great opportunity to bring math and literacy skills together in a format that is concrete and fun. Students can use math skills they are learning and apply them by creating word problems for their peers to solve.

Follow these steps to teach word problems using Flocabulary’s math songs:

• After watching a Flocabulary math video, have students review the content and complete any supporting activities.
• Model for students by creating a sample word problem that utilizes the type of math operation you’re focusing on.
• Walk through the problem with the class, pointing out the importance of reading it carefully, understanding what you’re solving for, and underlining the most relevant information to help guide the problem-solving process.
• Break students into pairs and ask them to create a world problem that challenges another student using real-life examples. They can be as creative as they want to be, but lay down any processes you feel are necessary like how long they have to be, how many steps to include, and maximum or minimum number values to use.
• After a set amount of work time, have students swap their word problems with another student, solve and review. Encourage students to use the vocabulary in the video they are watching. You can even use the Word Problems lessons to help support word problem writing.

2. Connect math skills to real life

When math exists beyond the world of worksheets, students are able to make connections with their lives. Students can brainstorm a list of ways that math skills can be used in real life after watching a Flocabulary math rap video. Lead a brainstorm about the ways you could use that skill in real life. Many Flocabulary videos give you a few examples to start with. If you are teaching addition, for example, you could lead with an example about counting the total number of toys in their house by adding up how many toys each kid in the family has. If you’re covering probability, students might describe trying to figure out how likely they are to win different types of games. Take this a step further by mixing math instruction with life skills using Financial Literacy lessons .

3. Math facts challenge

With Flocabulary’s Addition and Subtraction lessons and Multiplication and Division lessons created around the mastery of fact fluency, teachers can create a math facts challenge in the classroom. Students work on the same math facts each week in class or at their own pace. Once students have achieved a certain score on each math fact number, they can move ahead to the next one.

Flocabulary’s videos for math facts progress through each level with a video and corresponding activities to practice the vocabulary and new skills. Teachers can find additional teacher resources with each video to support students as they practice and master these facts in a variety of ways.

4. Prioritize math vocabulary instruction

Integrate math vocabulary seamlessly into your classroom routines by incorporating it into activities like Number Talks and Do Nows. Use existing routines as opportunities to expose students to math words authentically in context, reinforcing their understanding through repetition and discussion. Encourage engagement and foster a vocabulary-rich environment by turning vocabulary spotting into a game with gestures or signals. At Flocabulary, vocabulary is key to our lessons and activities, so these video lessons and activities are perfect for math vocabulary acquisition and reinforcement.

5. Use videos and activities as math centers for students

With Flocabulary, teachers have a flexible platform to create student-centered learning opportunities or teacher-initiated experiences. Flocabulary math video lessons make instruction interesting when used as a topic spark to introduce a new math concept at the start of the lesson. When students are introduced to vocabulary prior to the lesson, their confidence rises.

Watch a video to spark interest in a new topic and use Discuss Mode to have the video stop at important parts to discuss new terms and ideas with students. After, teach your typical lesson however works best for you. When it’s time for students to work in class, revisit using Flocabulary activities like the Vocab Game, Quiz, Read & Respond, or Lyric Lab for student-centered activities to work on at their own pace in centers, stations, or small groups.

Start using Flocabulary for math

Let’s make math not just a subject but an adventure in discovery and understanding. With Flocabulary, teachers can bring literacy, comprehension, and vocabulary into every teaching moment. Ready to embark on a journey where learning meets rhythm and rhyme? Sign up for a trial to access Flocabulary!

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10 Ideas for Vocabulary Instruction in Math

There is a strong correlation between a student’s word knowledge and future academic success. Evidence shows that what students already know about a topic is a reliable predictor of how easy they will learn new information in that topic. Words are the tools students use to access background knowledge, to make necessary connections, to learn about new concepts, and to express those ideas in everyday life. In fact, the more terms you know about a specific subject, the easier it is to understand and learn new information related to that subject. One builds upon the other.

It takes a numeracy-rich environment for authentic vocabulary learning to occur. The power of numeracy lies in the empowerment of students; that is, students are given opportunities to use academic vocabulary in a natural setting and to recognize and appreciate how that term relates to the world both inside and outside the math class.

As teachers, we need to look at developing vocabulary in mathematics. Learning new content vocabulary is critical to deepening mathematical understanding. Without an appreciation of the content vocabulary involved, students are often denied access to mathematics. Understanding math language gives students the proficiency they need to mull around in the math a bit, integrate old knowledge with newly learned vocabulary, and apply that learned knowledge in new situations.

The authors of Bringing Words to Life (Beck, McKeown, Kucan 2002) explain that effective vocabulary instruction does not rely solely on definitions. Writing definitions out of a math dictionary is just not enough. When vocabulary instruction is effective, students learn the words, use the words, remember the words, and can ultimately apply the words fluently in different contexts.

Research indicates that when vocabulary instruction is direct and purposeful, it is effective. One of the most consistent findings related to effective vocabulary instruction is that students need multiple exposures to a word in order to learn it. Essentially, the more times students are exposed to a new vocabulary word, the stronger the understanding becomes. We sometimes forget a child needs to hear and use a word several times before it can be assimilated into daily conversation. Consequently, teachers should consider how to make multiple exposures to the word or concept frequent, novel, meaningful, and engaging. In other words, we need to make vocabulary instruction come alive!

Below you will find 10 ideas for making vocabulary instruction engaging, meaningful, and lasting:

1. An Interactive Word Wall

As students learn new vocabulary words, add them to a Word Wall. You can simply add the words or have students create a poster of each word including a visual, student definition, examples & non-examples. Allow students to move words around on the word wall according to whatever challenges you present. Provide opportunities to categorize the concepts, create hierarchies, and/or identify words that would connect to the learning that day.

You can also play a mystery word game giving hints while students guess the appropriate word. The student who guesses can then take a turn identifying a new mystery vocab. Another great idea is to choose one word and have students create questions that can be answered using the word. Students can play “fact or fib” using a word wall. As you choose one word and read statements about that word, students decide whether that statement is a fact or fib. This can easily be adapted into “sometimes, always, never” statements. Of course, it is important to discuss reasoning behind all activities using an interactive word wall.

The word wall below comes from a Ms. Clark’s fifth grade class at First Philadelphia Charter School. It is magnetized to allow for easy movement of the words.

As a way to build background knowledge, have students preview the text pages and with a partner identify any vocabulary words that might trip them up during the lesson. Students can keep their own “confusing words” list and use that list to search for answers and clarify misconceptions. Make sure to revisit and revise the list so students can keep track of growth.

3. Inside/Outside Circle

Each student receives a vocabulary word on an index card. Students are to define and draw an example of the word on the back of the card. Students form two concentric circles – inside circle facing out and outside circle facing in so that each student is facing a partner. Students alternate asking partners either definition or term. Teachers move circles to find new partners and repeat steps.

4. Frontload Multiple-Meaning Words

Mathematics often uses words with multiple meanings. This can be very confusing for students. It is helpful to present these words prior to the lesson and ask students to brainstorm various meanings. If need be, simply let students know what the math meaning is. This revelation can be a relief to students with limited background knowledge. Some examples of multiple-meaning words in mathematics are substitute, regular, similar, angle, chord, expression, etc.

5. Word Wizard

Have students become “word wizards” by challenging them to discover their math vocabulary used somewhere outside the school setting. Of course, they will need to bring “proof,” which could be a news article, a quote from a relative, a picture emailed to you with a description, a drawing with a caption, a TV quote, etc. This activity raises awareness of how academic vocabulary is used in everyday life (Allen, 2000).

6. List-Group-Label, Word Sort, or Circle the Category

Classifying and categorizing vocabulary words are important skills for comprehension and application. A closed sort means you provide both terms and the categories. An open sort means you students are given the terms but are not given the category titles. It is up to them to create and justify groups and titles for each group. Circle the category is a kinesthetic way to either do an open or closed sort. Students receive the words and get up to form groups.

7. Double-Dutch Chants

8. Concept Circles

Concept circles are circles divided into quarters. You can design this activity differently:

• Include four terms and challenge students to recognize how they are related. Students can provide an appropriate topic title.
• Write one word that doesn’t belong. Students recognize and defend their answers. This can be open-ended so all answers can be right as long as the explanation is mathematically sound.
• Include three words and leave the last quarter blank asking students to find another related term and justify their answer.
• Leave all quarters blank. Students fill in related terms or sketches with shared explanations.

9. Pre- and Post- Concept Checks

This tool for vocabulary development takes just a minute to prepare, and the payoff is big for both teachers and students. If the objective for your lesson can only be achieved with a clear understanding of certain terms, or if your lesson is heavy on vocabulary, this is a great entry point.

Directions:

• Ahead of time, pull out the terms that are most important.
• Have students rate their understanding of the terms before the lesson using the rating scale below.
• Circulate the room using this as a formative assessment. Adapt lesson accordingly.
• After the lesson, have student re-rate their understanding and prove this rating by creating representations or writing an explanation (Forget, 2004, p.230).

Ratings:               

+ could teach it

Kind of know it

10. Vocabulary Cartoons

Vocabulary Cartoons work on the principle of mnemonics. A mnemonic device helps with retrieval by associating it with something you already know. Vocabulary cartoons link a rhyming word with a visual in the form of a humorous cartoon.

In the example below, the new math term chord is associated with the word bored . A chord is a line segment connecting two points on a circle’s circumference. By definition, a diameter is a chord, but there are endless other chords that do not pass through the center point of the circle. In this case, the chord is bored because, even though he’s invited into the circle, he’s rarely ever in the center of it all.

Pearse, Margie. Teaching Numeracy: 9 Critical Habits to Ignite Mathematical Thinking . Thousand Oaks: Corwin, 2011.

Written by Margie Pearse

Margie Pearse has over 30 years of teaching experience with certifications in mathematics, elementary education, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Pennsylvania Quality Assurance Systems (Certified Instructor – PQAS 2014). She is presently at Chester Community Charter School as a Math Coach and in graduate education, training pre-service teachers how to create deeper, more numeracy based lessons.

Margie’s passion is to share a love of math with teachers and students! Her goal is to empower every student with the tools and strategies needed to be fluent and flexible with numbers. Margie’s educational philosophy can be summed up as such, “Why NOT reinvent the wheel! Yesterday’s lessons will not suffice for students to succeed in tomorrow’s world. We need to meet students, not just where they are, but where they need to be. There is great potential in every child. It is our job to empower students to discover that potential and possess the tenacity and self-efficacy to reach it.”

Published Books: Teaching Numeracy: 9 Critical Habits to Ignite Mathematical Thinking , released by Corwin in 2011; Learning That Never Ends , released by Rowman & Littlefield in 2013; and Passing the Mathematics Test for Elementary Teachers , by Rowman & Littlefield, February 2015.

Establishing a Shared Language for VISIBLE LEARNING (Part 2)

Great teaching by design, latest comments, pingback: math | pearltrees / january 12, 2019, pingback: vocabulary | pearltrees / august 2, 2018.

Olivia Bartlett / July 6, 2016

Hello! This post was recommended for The Best of the Math Teacher Blogs 2016: a collection of people’s favorite blog posts of the year. We would like to publish an edited volume of the posts at the end of the year and use the money raised toward a scholarship for TMC. Please let us know by responding via http://goo.gl/forms/LLURZ4GOsQ whether or not you grant us permission to include your post. Thank you, Tina and Lani.

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words that mean add, subtract, multiply or divide and more. Includes geometry vocabulary.

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Other learning activities, teaching tools, full list of words from this list:.

• plus the arithmetic operation of summing add
• quotient the number obtained by division Book B All work through grade 6, except estimates of quotient figures in long division. Thorndike, Edward L. (Edward Lee) divide
• difference the number that remains after subtraction subtract
• combine put or add together add
• separate force, take, or pull apart Twenty people were separated into 2 groups. One group had 8 people. How many did the other group have? also cut up
• together assembled in one place addition
• change the balance of money received The item costs $5.50 . I give the clerk a ten dollar bill. How much change will I get back? subtraction
• times an arithmetic operation that is the inverse of division multiplication
• remaining not used up subtraction.
• increased made greater in size or amount or degree addition
• total the whole amount addition
• shared have in common; held or experienced in common share equally is to divide
• sum a quantity obtained by the addition of a group of numbers addition
• leftover not used up subtraction
• less fewer 10 less 4 means 10 - 4 = 6 NOTE: 10 LESS THAN 4 is NOT the same! This means 4 - 10 = -6
• fewer quantifier meaning a smaller number of I have 8 fewer papers that Janet. She has 11 papers. How many do I have? subtraction
• product a quantity obtained by multiplication multiply
• factor any of numbers that form a product when multiplied together 6 x 3 = 18. 6 and 3 are factors of 18
• decreased made less in size or amount or degree subtraction
• split separate into parts or portions division
• half one of two equal parts of a divisible whole divide by 2
• quarter one of four equal parts divide by 4
• cube the product of three equal terms multiply
• square a polygon with four equal sides and four right angles 1. a geometry shape 2. to multiply a number by itself
• more greater in size or amount or extent or degree i have more than you addition
• addend a number that is combined with another number 6 + 3 = 9; 6 and 3 are the addends
• average around the middle of a scale of evaluation add up all the values and then divide by the number of values; add anad then divide
• coordinate a number that identifies a position relative to an axis an ordered pair (x,y) that represents a point on a graph
• denominator the divisor of a fraction the bottom number of a fraction
• numerator the dividend of a fraction the top number of a fraction
• equation a mathematical statement that two expressions are the same must have a equal sign
• expression a group of symbols that make a mathematical statement Does NOT have an equal sign
• estimate an approximate calculation of quantity or degree or worth
• fraction the quotient of two rational numbers a fraction is a division problem!!!
• integer any natural number or its negative, or zero positive and negative WHOLE numbers.
• mean an average computed by adding some function of the numbers also known as the average
• median relating to the middle value of an ordered set of values the number in the middle position when numbers are listed in order
• mode the most frequent value of a random variable number that appears the MOST
• prime a number that has no factor but itself and 1 2,3,5,7,11,13...
• probability a measure of how likely it is that some event will occur
• acute (of an angle) less than 90 degrees acute angle; acute triangle
• angle the space between two lines or planes that intersect the point of intersection is called the vertex
• area the extent of a two-dimensional surface within a boundary find area of: square, rectangle, parallelogram, triangle, trapezoid, circle etc. There are formulas for each shape. The area is the surface INSIDE the shape
• perimeter a line enclosing a plane area distance all the way around something.
• circle a plane curve with every point equidistant from the center better definition: Infinite number of points that are the same distance from a center point; Like a wagon wheel.
• circumference the length of the closed curve of a circle distance around a circle
• congruent corresponding in character or kind simply: Same size and shape
• equilateral having all sides of the same length can be a triangle with all sides equal. When other shapes have all equal sides, they use the word REGULAR to tell you all the sides are equal
• hexagon a six-sided polygon
• intersecting crossed or intersected in the form of an X what 2 lines do when they cross each other.
• isosceles (of a triangle) having two sides of equal length
• line a length between two points
• segment one of several parts that fit with others to make a whole parts of a line
• obtuse of an angle, between 90 and 180 degrees can be identified as being a FAT angle
• octagon a shape with eight angles and eight sides
• parallel being everywhere equidistant and not intersecting lines that will never cross each other are parellel
• parallelogram a quadrilateral whose opposite sides are parallel and equal
• pentagon a shape with five angles and five sides
• perpendicular intersecting at or forming right angles think of the letter 'T' Horizontal and vertical lines intersect to for a perpendicular angle Forms a 90 degree angle
• polygon a closed plane figure bounded by straight sides polygons do not have curves or openings
• quadrilateral a four-sided polygon that is all it needs: 4 sides
• ray (mathematics) a straight line extending from a point it looks like a line but one end stops and the other end keeps going
• rhombus a parallelogram with four equal sides looks like a square that is leaning over
• right having the axis perpendicular to the base Formed by perpendicular lines ; angle, triangle : is 90 degrees
• scalene having three sides of different lengths
• straight free from curves or angles a straight angle has 180 degrees. It looks like a straight line with a point on it as the vertex
• symmetry exact reflection of form on opposite sides of a line better said: a shape has symmetry if it can be folded so that the 2 halves match
• volume the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object the inside of a 3D shape. How much a container will hold

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