Go Figure!
“Mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” – Albert Einstein
Sometimes you just don’t have everything you need. It’s those moments you reach out to a friend or neighbor to “borrow” something with the intention of returning or replacing the item.
But, in the science of mathematics there is never a time that we “borrow” anything. You may remember your days as a student learning subtraction and you were presented with a problem such as 81-29. In order to solve this you were told and learned that you need to borrow from the 8, making it a 7 and then the 1 can become an 11 to begin your subtraction. Borrowing is not an official term in math but one that is often used. The actual step is called regrouping and it’s critical that we use this term when we teach subtraction.
Understanding mathematics, like other sciences, requires the learner to develop a thorough knowledge of the vocabulary used to be able to navigate this critical subject. Check out this list of math vocabulary words from the Common Core Standards by clicking on the calculator
During our last teacher institute day we spent a great deal of time reviewing math vocabulary. We spent time looking at Math Expressions (the district curriculum), the Math Common Core Standards and the vocabulary list associated with the Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP). Our goal was to ensure that the math vocabulary we are teaching in our curriculum is well matched with how our students are assessed on state and standardized tests. We came away from our day with a better understanding of what we teach and the importance of being consistent with our math language.
Math education has evolved over the last thirty years and probably looks a lot different than when we went to school. Because of this, it may be challenging to work with your child on math homework. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our teachers if your child says to you, “That’s not the way Mrs… told us how to do it!”
Here are a few resources to help you at home.