The Importance of Vocabulary

In the Modified-Flipped Algebra classroom one of the challenges has been teaching the students how to learn differently.  In the beginning of the quarter, the students notes were looking far better than if taken during class.  They were writing down the vocabulary and the example problems.  In the second quarter, I noticed that their notes were not including as much vocabulary as I would like.  In addition, when I would ask about vocabulary during class, most could not give me an explanation of the term or how they went from one step to the next.  

I wonder if this has to do with the material becoming more challenging and the students are not as familiar with the terms as at the beginning of the year when there is a lot of review.  The vocabulary is explained during most of the videos, however, most students do not write down the explanation of the term.  Instead they copy the screen with all the mechanics.  Again, I think this is a matter of the students learning what is important to put in their notes.

With this challenge in mind for me, during the last couple weeks, I have tried to improve the vocabulary content by discussing how important it is to write down the definitions in their notes as well as the mechanics. Students notes are slowly becoming more precise with the vocabulary.  I needed to spend time explaining the importance of knowing the how and why they achieve the next step.  This involves understanding all the terms.

In addition to this, I have added questions to their homework assignments.  The questions require the student to think and use the vocabulary.  In the past, I would begin the class with these questions but I have found it beneficial if the student prepares for the question the night before the content is practiced in class.