Today's session was all about geometry.
One thing that really stood out to me is how vocabulary-intensive geometry is. It involves a lot of subject-specific terms like vertices, supplementary angles, complementary angles, vertical, parallel, adjacent, tessellation, transformation, and more. Each term is not just a label but a concept that students need to internalise and apply correctly. This poses a significant challenge for students, especially when they encounter so many new words in such a short period. I’m left wondering how to help them grasp all of these terms effectively and, more importantly, retain them beyond the current unit. I believe this requires regularly incorporating this vocabulary throughout the entire school year, not just during the geometry unit. By normalising the use of these terms in the classroom—whether we're discussing shapes, angles, or even patterns in other contexts—I suspect they will become a natural part of my students' vocabulary. The goal is to get to a point where these words aren’t intimidating or foreign, but rather part of their everyday language when discussing mathematical concepts.
Another thing that really stood out to me was the number of incredible digital tools available to make teaching geometry easier and more engaging. One tool I’m especially excited to try with my students is Amplify Polypad. It’s packed with interactive features like virtual manipulatives, grids, and geometry tools that help students not only visualise but also experiment with different concepts. This kind of hands-on exploration can be so beneficial, especially in a subject as visual as geometry. For instance, students can manipulate shapes, explore transformations, or work with tessellations directly on their screens, making abstract ideas more tangible. I think using something like Polypad will transform the way students engage with geometry, turning it into something dynamic and interactive, rather than just working through problems on paper. I’m hopeful that tools like this will help demystify some of the more complex concepts and lead to deeper understanding and excitement about geometry.
I hoping by incorporating these tools along with a focus on language will help make geometry more accessible and enjoyable for my students.
Kia Ora Rob,
ReplyDeleteI have another convert to Mathigon and polypads. Yeh! It is one of my favourites. It is so easy to use and students don’t need to log in and remember passwords. There are a variety of activities and resources there. Have fun trying them out in your classroom.
You are so correct on the vocabulary for geometry there is so much for the students to learn and lots of brand new words and maths concepts for them to understand.
The consistency and consolidation of new vocabulary and concepts is a good way to imbed conceptual understanding. I am looking forward to hearing some of your creative and innovative ideas. Have a great 2 weeks and we will see you on the 7 November at day 8 of MPI.
Donna