VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

Vocabulary Development
The way we communicate with each other everyday comes from an evolution of
our personal vocabulary. This is what takes place from the first moment we say mama
or dada. In Mathematics and evolution of vocabulary must also take place in order to
communicate and understand math as students progress through the curriculum. In the
following paper I am taking vocabulary that students will encounter throughout the class
and using them to create two different assignments that will help and develop the
vocabulary development of the students. The vocabulary words that are of emphasis are:
point, x-axis, y-axis, ordered pair, origin, x-coordinate, y-coordinate, graph, right triangle,
right angle, segment, hypotenuse, leg (Larson, 2001, pg. 803-809). All of these words
will be included in the assignments to follow.
The first strategy I would use would be Formal Definition. A formal definition
must have two elements: 1) the class, or category, to which the concept belongs and 2)
specific features that allow us to distinguish examples of the concept from any other
member of the category. When introducing the basics of the coordinate plane and the
many different components that make it up (McKenna and Robinson, 2009, pg. 89). I
would present this lesson first on the projector going over the specific vocabulary and
what it means. As I define it I would also draw it and label it in the coordinate plane so
there is a visual interpretation of all the information presented orally. Once this is
completed and all questions are answered I would ask the students to complete the
following assignment. The assignment is a reiteration of the definitions I just presented as
well as the visual interpretation I presented. This will help the students by having them
recall the information I just presented and personally allocate what makes up the
coordinate plane.

Angel Espindola

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

The second strategy I would use would be a Graphic Organizer. A graphic

organizer can be used and interpreted in many different ways. Overall a a graphic
organizer is a diagram showing how key concepts are related (McKenna and Robinson,
2009, pg. 90). In the attached assignments the students are asked to use their acquired
vocabulary on a lesson on the Pythagorean theorem and use the graphic organizer to
show their understanding of the vocabulary. This would be presented after the initial
introduction of the theorem to assure the students are grasping the vocabulary they will
be using on a regular basis. Using a graphic organizer will help the students to be able to
identify the needed parts to perform the Pythagorean theorem correctly and visualize
what all the vocabulary represents.
Additional Materials
Vocabulary Definitions (Formal Definitions)
Pythagoreon Theorem Vocabulary (graphic organizer separate attachment)

Resources
McKenna, M. and Robinson, R. (2009). Teaching through text: Reading and writing in
the content areas (2nd ed). Boston: Pearson.
Larson, R. (2001). Algebra 1 concepts and skills (California ed.). Evanston, Ill.:
McDougal, Littell.

Angel Espindola

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

Vocabulary Definitions
For the following words define the word by identifying when you use it and what it does.
X-Coordinate:
(Ans) Is used when graphing to locate the location of a point on the x-axis
Y-Coordinate:
Point:
Ordered Pair:
Origin:
Graph:
X-Axis:
Y-Axis:
Once you have defined them construct a coordinate plane that includes all these words
and label appropriately.

Angel Espindola