EDUA 5379 The Language of Math
THE LANGUAGE OF MATH
Mathematics has a language all its own, and as with any technical language, mastering the terminology is essential to the conceptual understanding of the subject matter. In this course, we will examine mathematical definitions, the complexity and potential ambiguities of terms, and the importance of understanding the definitions of mathematical symbols as a part of that vocabulary. We will look at the grammatical structure of mathematical language, and how applying that structure can assist in conceptual understanding.
We will also look at strategies for incorporating and modifying traditional language-teaching techniques into the math classroom, and how teachers can use visual representations and technology to help assist students in mastering that terminology. We will also look at developing road maps for students approaching word problems, and how we can use rich problem-solving tasks to help build conceptual understanding.