Mathematical vocabulary: National Numeracy Strategy

Aimed at both teachers and support staff, this guide to mathematical vocabulary is designed to support the National Numeracy Strategy alongside the Framework for Teaching Mathematics.

It begins by outlining its purpose and intentions before analysing the different ways in which children demonstrate a poor understanding of mathematical language and explaining why mathematical language is important in the development of a child’s thinking.

The guide provides four pages of vocabulary checklists for each year group from reception to Year 6. Class teachers can use these lists to identify the vocabulary relating to a series of lessons. The first three pages for each year cover mathematical vocabulary relating to the Framework for Teaching Mathematics and are organised according to its five strands: numeracy and the number system; calculations; solving problems; handling data; measures, shape and space.

The fourth page for each year group lists the language commonly used when giving instructions about mathematical problems.

The guide ends with a brief look at the use of mathematical dictionaries and lists DfES contact details on the back cover.

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