I am sure your second grader knows what "add" means and "equals" but can they define the math meaning of "difference"? How about "faces" and do they remember "unit" and "combinations" from first grade? With the Common Core State Standards communicating about mathematical thinking is very important and to do so we need a good grasp on math vocabulary.
Additionally, besides being able to write and speak math terms like angles and sum, students need to be able to independently read and understand written math directions on their own. In a testing situation, teachers may be able to read what a word says but if a student does not remember it they will not be able to define it (of course in everyday lessons and not on tests, yes we would help). For example, "Write a subtraction equation in which the difference is 6" or "Write a number model in which the sum is 8" would require not only computation but knowing what those words mean.
If your child is not up on some math vocabulary, do not worry! We will be working hard on vocabulary and by the end of the year he will have all the second grade terms mastered. Right now I am also reviewing some first grade math vocabulary that could use revisiting too.
For your information here are some (not meant to be complete) of the words we will address this year*:
Addition facts
Hundreds
Skip count
Expanded form
Standards form
Number names
Value
Ruler
Yardstick
Meterstick
Measuring tape
Foot
Yard
Meter
Number line
A.M.
P.M.
Dollar
Quarter (coin)
Half Dollar (coin)
Cents
Line plot
Picture graph
Bar graph
Angles
Faces
Quadrilaterals
Pentagon
Hexagon
Rows
Columns
Thirds
Halves
And here are the terms your child worked on last year and we will be reviewing:
Addition
Subtraction
Sum
Difference
Group
Counting On
Making ten
Doubles
Combinations
Equal sign
True
False
Unknown
Digits
Two-digit number
Greater than sign
Less than sign
Mental math
Unit
Centimeter
Inch
Hours
Half hour
Minutes
Digital
Clock
Trapezoid
Half-circle
Quarter-circle
Cube
Right rectangular
prism
Cone
Cylinder
Half
Fourth
Quarter (fraction)
* Yes I know these should not be capitalized but good ol' blogger is capitalizing them by default and it would take me a while to fix each one, so I am going to leave it for now.
Thank you and if you have individual questions about your own child let me know!
Additionally, besides being able to write and speak math terms like angles and sum, students need to be able to independently read and understand written math directions on their own. In a testing situation, teachers may be able to read what a word says but if a student does not remember it they will not be able to define it (of course in everyday lessons and not on tests, yes we would help). For example, "Write a subtraction equation in which the difference is 6" or "Write a number model in which the sum is 8" would require not only computation but knowing what those words mean.
If your child is not up on some math vocabulary, do not worry! We will be working hard on vocabulary and by the end of the year he will have all the second grade terms mastered. Right now I am also reviewing some first grade math vocabulary that could use revisiting too.
For your information here are some (not meant to be complete) of the words we will address this year*:
Addition facts
Hundreds
Skip count
Expanded form
Standards form
Number names
Value
Ruler
Yardstick
Meterstick
Measuring tape
Foot
Yard
Meter
Number line
A.M.
P.M.
Dollar
Quarter (coin)
Half Dollar (coin)
Cents
Line plot
Picture graph
Bar graph
Angles
Faces
Quadrilaterals
Pentagon
Hexagon
Rows
Columns
Thirds
Halves
And here are the terms your child worked on last year and we will be reviewing:
Addition
Subtraction
Sum
Difference
Group
Counting On
Making ten
Doubles
Combinations
Equal sign
True
False
Unknown
Digits
Two-digit number
Greater than sign
Less than sign
Mental math
Unit
Centimeter
Inch
Hours
Half hour
Minutes
Digital
Clock
Trapezoid
Half-circle
Quarter-circle
Cube
Right rectangular
prism
Cone
Cylinder
Half
Fourth
Quarter (fraction)
* Yes I know these should not be capitalized but good ol' blogger is capitalizing them by default and it would take me a while to fix each one, so I am going to leave it for now.
Thank you and if you have individual questions about your own child let me know!