Academic Vocabulary Mathematics Carolann DeMoss Teacher on Special Assignment - Mathematics These grade level lists of mathematical vocabulary words are the result of the compilation of a number of math word lists. An effort was made to include words that have a high frequency, are relevant to California mathematics standards and CST, and are found in the District s adopted math textbook, Scott Foresman. There are 7 graded lists, Kindergarten through Sixth Grade Each list is arranged in alphabetical order A key for each grade level is provided to identify the vocabulary word s origin and frequency of occurrence The following published lists were used: Nieroroda B. and Browning C. (1989). EDL core vocabularies in reading, mathematics, science, and social studies. Steck-Vaughn: Orlando. Marzano R. and Pickering D. (2005). Building academic vocabulary: Teacher s manual. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development: Alexandria. California mathematics. (2001). Scott Foresman: Glenview. Other publications used: California Department of Education (2005). California CST released test questions. Retrieved at http://cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr on July 12, 2006. Mathematics framework for California public schools. (2006). California Department of Education: Sacramento. Use of the word lists: Vocabulary development, preview and review, English language development, word games, and a discussion regarding standard math language are a few of the potential uses for these word lists. Efforts towards the formulation of a school- or district-wide math vocabulary program could begin with these word lists.
2-dimensional shape 2-dimensional shape combination 2-dimensional shape decomposition 2-dimensional shape slide 2-dimensional shape turn 2-dimensional space 3-dimensional shape 3-dimensional shape combination abacus about above acute angle acute angle acute triangle add addend addend addition addition addition algorithm after all amount amount (of money) angle angle angle angle measurement tool angle unit angles answer approximate solutions area area area area - Page 1
area around array associative property associative property attributes bar graph basic fact basic number combinations before below below between breaking apart by calculate capacity capacity cent centimeter centimeter centimeters certain certain certain certainty (probability) change ($) charts check results circle circle circumference classes of triangles classify clock close - Page 2
cluster cluster collection column common denominator common fractions commutative property commutative property compare compared compatible numbers compensation complete components compute results cone congruent conservation of area constant conversions corresponding angles corresponding sides cost cost cost per unit count cube cube(s) cubic unit cup cup customary units of length cylinder cylinder cylinder data - Page 3
data data cluster data collection method day decimal decimal decimal decimal(s) decimal addition decimal division decimal estimation decimal multiplication decimal notation decimal point decimal subtraction decimeter degrees Celsius degrees Fahrenheit denominator describe determine determining diagram diagrams difference difference different different size units digit digit digit(s) dime disprove distributive property divide divided - Page 4
dividend dividend divisibility division division division division problem division sentence divisor divisors dollar dozen each each edge eight eight elapsed time end point English system of measurement equal equal sides equally divided equals equation equation equation equilateral triangle equilateral triangle equilateral triangle equivalent forms equivalent fractions equivalent fractions equivalent representation estimate estimate - Page 5
estimation estimation estimation of fractions estimation of height estimation of length estimation of width even even number even numbers evenly divide event likelihood exact solutions expanded form expanded notation expanded notation experiments expression expression extend extreme value face faces of a shape factor factors factors feet feet fifths figure figure figure first five flip flip transformation foot - Page 6
foot form four fourth fraction fraction fraction fraction(s) fraction addition fraction division fraction multiplication fraction subtraction fractional fractional part fractions of different size frame from front-end digits front-end estimation front-end estimation function functional relationship gallon gallon geometric figure geometric pattern geometric pattern extension gram gram graph graphs great greater than greater than greatest greatest common factor - Page 7
group grouping property growing pattern half halves heavier hexagon hexagon hexagon histogram horizontal axis hour hours how many how much how much hundred hundreds place identify identity property impossible impossible improbability improbable improper fraction in all in order inch inch inches inequalities inequality inequality solutions input/output table inside integer - Page 8
intersecting lines intersection of shapes invalid argument inverse operations inverse relationship investigation irrelevant information in a problem isosceles isosceles triangle isosceles triangle isosceles triangle join kilogram kilometer kilometer(s) large least least common multiple left length length lengths less less than less than likely likely likely line line graph line of symmetry line plot line segment line segment linear pattern linear pattern - Page 9
liquid volume liter long long many mass mass match mean measure measurement measurement measurement tools measures of central tendency measures of height measures of length measures of width median member of a set meter meter meters meters metric system midpoint mile milliliter minuend minus minutes mixed number mixed numbers mode model models money - Page 10
more more than more than most multidigit numbers multiple multiple multiplication multiplication multiplication multiplication sentence multipliers multiply name near nearest hundred nearest ten nearest thousand negative number next nickel nine not number number number line number of addition number of faces number of times number pairs number sentence number sentence number sentence number triplet numeral numerator - Page 11
numeric equations object object obtuse angle obtuse angle obtuse triangle octagon octagon odd odd number odd numbers one one-half open and closed sentence open sentence operations order order order of operations ordered pair ounce ounce outcome outcomes outside over packed equally pair parallel parallel lines parallel lines parallel sides parallelogram parallelogram parallelogram parallelogram formula - Page 12
part part to whole path pattern pattern pattern addition pattern subtraction penny pentagon pentagon per pound percent perimeter perimeter perimeter perimeter perpendicular lines pie chart pint pint place place value plane figure plane figure plus point polygon polygon positive number possible pound pound pound(s) prime factorization prime number prism - Page 13
prism probability probability probability problem problem solving process of elimination product product product proof properties prove pyramid pyramid quadrilateral quadrilateral quadrilaterals quart quart quarter quotient quotient quotient ray ray reasonableness recognize rectangle rectangle rectangle rectangle formula rectangular prism rectangular solid reduced form relative distance - Page 14
relative magnitude relative magnitude of fractions relative size relevant information in a problem remainder remainder rename repeating pattern replace represent representations restate a problem results reversing order of operations rhombus rhombus right right angle right angle right angle right angles right triangle rotation round round off rounding row ruler same same number same size units sample scale scalene triangle second segment - Page 15
sentence set set of numbers seven seventy-six shaded shape shapes shape similarity shape symmetry shape transformation shrinking pattern side sides sign sign (operational) simple simple predictions simplify six slide solid solid figure solid figure solid object solution solve solve space sphere sphere spinner square square square number square unit - Page 16
standard form standard form standard vs. nonstandard units studies subset subset subtract subtraction subtraction subtraction algorithm sum sum surface area survey symbolic form symbolic representation symbols symmetric table table tables tallies tally chart tally chart tally marks temperature ten tens place third thousand thousand three three times as many time (of day) time zone times - Page 17
total total cost trial and error triangle triangle triangle formula true true truncation turn twenty two unit units unit conversion unit conversions unit cost unit differences unlike denominators unlikely unlikely unlikely valid argument variability Venn diagram verbal representation of a problem verification vertical axis volume volume volume measurement volume of irregular shapes volume of rectangular solids volume of solid figures was left week - Page 18
weight weight whole whole number whole numbers wide word name yard yard zero - Page 19
Appendix An explanation of the word lists used in the creation of this document: California Standards Vocabulary and Released Test Item Vocabulary The author attempted to identify key grade level terms and phrases that were critical to student understanding of mathematics and the development of mathematical academic language. EDL Math Core Vocabulary Educational Developmental Laboratories (EDL s) purpose for the development and publication of the core vocabulary list is to improve the readability of instructional materials. Two doctoral dissertations are the basis of the two grade level mathematics core vocabulary lists, grade levels 1 3 and grade levels 4-6. These lists provide information as to the frequency and importance of mathematical terms. Each word or phrase is ranked according to its frequency and placed in a category. EDL lists 473 math words in seven categories for grades K 3 and 743 math words in nine categories for grades 4 6. EDL Core Vocabularies in Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies is referenced by ETS, Educational Testing Network Service - the company that creates the CST and CAHSEE, and individuals under contract for writing test items. For the purposes of this LBUSD Mathematics Academic Vocabulary List, the following EDL math categories were used: Grades K 3: Words listed in Primary Categories I III; 169 math terms Grades 4 6: Words listed in Intermediate Categories I VI; 140 math terms Marzano Marzano and Pickering created the lists by taking words from national standards documents and organizing the words into grade level sections. The authors caution the user(s) to make determination as to which words are critically important, useful but not critical, and interesting but not very useful to the understanding of mathematics. Academic Vocabulary Word Lists: Level 1: grades K 2; 80 math terms on list Level 2: grades 3 5; 190 math terms on list Level 3: grades 6 8; 201 math terms on list Scott Foresman Vocabulary Grade level math words were obtained from each grade level s teacher editions. The words are listed as Building Vocabulary at the beginning of each chapter.