Our Purpose

Math Words is an intervention for improving the understanding of mathematics vocabulary for third and fourth grade students who have difficulty in math. Success with math involves understanding the language of math. The language of math includes numbers, symbols, and words. Language is learned through speaking, listening, reading, and writing.  Math Words addresses all of these! Learning math vocabulary can be tough for students because some words have multiple meanings in math. For example, the word “square” could mean the shape or to “square” a number (3² = 9). Also, some words have different meanings outside of math. For example, the word “difference” in math means the answer to a subtraction problem, but “difference” outside of math might simply refer to things being different from one another (e.g., there’s a difference in the weather in summer and winter). Lastly, some words sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. For example, “sum” and “some.” We know that elementary students that have stronger math vocabulary knowledge perform better in math overall. However, learning math vocabulary can be even more challenging for students experiencing difficulty in math. Therefore, Math Words addresses a significant need for interventions aimed at improving the math vocabulary understanding of these students.