From Static to Dynamic: Make Your Math Word Wall Come Alive

When used well a math word wall can be a powerful tool that develops math vocabulary, promotes independence, and supports reading and writing in mathematics. Similarly, providing students with a personal math vocabulary book ensures that they have access to the language they need to further develop math writing skills no matter where they are seated in the classroom. A personal math vocabulary book also allows for differentiation as students can add the words they need to their own book and have them readily available at all times.

Ways to Promote Effective Use of Math Word Walls and Math Vocabulary Books

• Introduce Vocabulary
  Introduce new math vocabulary, as appropriate, during lessons. Post new vocabulary on the word wall as it is introduced, rather than putting it all up at the beginning of a unit. As each word is placed on the word wall, discuss and agree upon a class definition and have a student write it on a blank card to be displayed alongside the word. Be sure to also discuss where students can find these words in their personal math vocabulary book.
  
  
• Model, Model, Model
  Displaying words at the beginning of the year and expecting students to use them without showing them how is setting your word wall up for failure. Refer to the word wall and vocabulary book often so that students get into the habit of doing the same. Model how to use these resources during math writing sessions. The more you use these resources, the more your students will do the same.
  
  
• Make the Word Wall Interactive
  Make your math word wall interactive by posting vocabulary cards in a pocket chart. This allows you to easily remove cards for use in vocabulary games or for students to go to the wall, remove a word, use it at their desk, and return it. It also makes it easier for you to dismantle the wall at the end of each unit which will save you time and make it more likely that you will update it regularly.
  
  
• Set Clear Expectations
  Let students know early in the year that you expect to see precise use of vocabulary words in their math writing. To begin with you may have to prompt students to make use of available resources. “Your goal for today is to use at least three words from page 6 of your math vocabulary book in your written explanation." 
  
  
• Less is More
  To prevent your math word wall from becoming too crowded and difficult to use, display vocabulary for the current unit of study only. Remove words once a unit is completed and retire them to the math center. Students can use cards from previous units to play memory games such as Concentration where they match a word to a definition, Go Fish (“Do you have “a six sided figure?” ”Yes, I have a hexagon.”), or any other games that provide opportunities to review vocabulary.
  
  

WORD WALL ACTIVITIES

1. The Word Wall Game: The objective of this game is for students to find words on the word wall, or in their vocabulary book, using clues given by the teacher, or another student. Students write the numerals 1-10 in their notebooks or on a dry erase board. The clue giver describes the 10 words and students write down what they think each word is. 

Sample 5th grade clues: "I am thinking of a word that..."

• means the opposite of ..... /means the same as …

• describes the rules for performing operations in expressions with more than one operation.

• describes a mass equivalent to 1,000 grams.

Use this game when you have a spare few minutes between lessons, or as you are walking to and from lunch and have students say the words rather than write them. 

2. Cloze Activities: Write 2-3 sentences and leave blank spaces for students to fill in with appropriate math vocabulary from the word wall or vocabulary book. Alternatively, call out a math word and have students write a sentence that expresses a relationship or connection between the term and another math term, concept, situation, or real-world application. 

3. Vocabulary Sort: Choose 10-12 words from the word wall. Students work with a partner to think of different ways they can sort the words into two, or more, groups (e.g. quadrilaterals/not quadrilaterals, shape properties/names of shapes, units of measure/ measuring tools etc.) Students record their word groups and explain their sorting criteria in writing.

4. Compare and Contrast: Choose two vocabulary words from the current unit and have students work with a partner to come up with different ways that the words are alike and different.

A centimeter and a meter are alike because ….
A centimeter and a meter are different because ….

A rhombus and a trapezoid are alike because ….
A rhombus and a trapezoid are different because ….

One-half and one-fourth are alike because ….
One-half and one-fourth are different because ….

5. Vocabulary Story: Students use as many of the current math word wall words as they can to write and illustrate a short story. Word wall words are highlighted or underlined.

6. Math Vocabulary Riddle: Students write a riddle based on a math word wall word and trade with a partner.
Example:  I am a 3D shape.
                 I have 6 identical square faces.
                 I have 8 vertices and 12 edges.
                 What am I?

7. Math Vocabulary Triangle: Students write a word from the word wall or math vocabulary book on the first line. On the second line they write two words that are synonyms for the chosen word. On the third line they write three words describing the chosen word. On the fourth line they write a fact about the word.

                        hexagon                                                              ruler
                       flat shape                                                     measuring tool
                   six sided polygon                                     millimeters and centimeters
           beehive cells are hexagonal                             used to measure distance

8. Tic-Tac-Toe: Draw a large grid on chart paper and place a vocabulary card in each square. Divide students into teams. Teams take turns choosing a word and defining it. If the team defines the word correctly, remove the card and place an X or an O in the square. Leave the card on the board if the team answers incorrectly. Continue play until one team has three in a row.

9. Vocabulary Crossword Puzzle: Students create a crossword puzzle using 10-12 words from the current math word wall and trade puzzles with a partner. Students can create puzzles by hand or use an online crossword puzzle maker.

When used as a regular part of classroom routines, word wall activities can play an important role in the development of students' math vocabulary. Setting aside a few minutes on a regular, ongoing basis for word wall activities will make students more aware of posted vocabulary and therefore more likely to independently use this resource when needed.