Maths Approach 5 from the EEF evidence store Facilitating Mathematical Language

Facilitating Mathematical Language

To facilitate the development of mathematical language it can help to plan for the vocabulary of different strands of maths each week to ensure a broad range of mathematical language is introduced and practiced over the year. Think about doing this progressively so new language and concepts build over time in a developmentally appropriate way.

Here, for example the adult might introduce language such as: fit, space, exact, cuboid, block. They might comment, “wow, those blocks seem to fit exactly”, “I wonder what would happen if we put them in upright”, “Are there other spaces you can fit the cuboids into?”