Saturday, February 6, 2016

Cement Learning Terms & Concepts with Visuals!

I love cementing students learning of terms and concepts with simple visuals as much as possible! For students who may struggle with reading, learning the English Language, or the subject I am teaching, I enjoy bringing in my visual arts background and cementing the concept with a simple visual.  It's like the saying 'A picture is worth a thousand words'.  Maybe not always in education, a thousand words, that's a lot.... however, a picture or visual to assist students in learning a skill, term, or just the vocabulary needed in the subject they are learning is so beneficial.

If you've read my previous posts about '4 Ways to Engage Learners' or have some of my products from TpT, I am sure you are aware by now, I try to incorporate visuals as much as possible.  The below example of rise demonstrates how I use visuals with math vocabulary to assist students learning math concepts and terms.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/8th-Grade-Math-Vocabulary-Activities-2230418

When a term is expressed with a formula or does not have a simple visual representation, I use color to color coordinate the information for students.  For example, as seen below, with the two slope equations the 'y-values' are in blue, all 'm' or 'slope' values are in green, all 'x-values' are in red, and all 'b' or y-intercept values are in purple.  This assist students knowledge in understanding that these equations and other's they use incorporate some of the same values and may be used to solve for the same concept depending on the information given.  It is a visual way of demonstrating the relation of the equations and determining which equation to use with the information given in a problem they need to solve.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/8th-Grade-Math-Vocabulary-Activities-2230418

I understand many teachers, including myself, do not have budgets to print vocabulary cards in color for each individual student, therefore, I suggest students utilizing color pencils to take notes (guided notes are included in my 8th grade vocabulary activities), students drawing their own visuals, using the vocabulary activities in my store in a station so you only have to print one or two color copies, and denoting equations on a board (whiteboard, smartboard, etc.) in specific colors when teaching students terminology and concepts. Not only, do my vocabulary products include images, but also, they include station suggestions, guided notes, tips on using the vocabulary cards, and assessments on the key terms.  To get my 8th Grade Math Vocabulary product, click here or on the photo below.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/8th-Grade-Math-Vocabulary-Activities-2230418
  

Best Wishes, Ms Moore
Certified K-6, 6-9 math, and 6-9 science
©2015 M Moore, M Moore Educational Resources.  All rights reserved. You may share, pin, like, share, & repin, just not copy and/or resell it.  This article series is for non-commercial use and my not be resold or reprinted without the author's express written consent.

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