Translating Algebra: Dry Erase Mat

Before nosotros started translating betwixt words in addition to algebraic expressions, equations, in addition to inequalities, I decided to figure out what my students remembered almost this procedure from previous math classes.

I created a nautical chart to hold upward printed on 11 x 17 carte du jour stock (affiliate link).

I printed 1 nautical chart for each tabular array group. Then, I slid each sail of carte du jour stock into 1 of my 11 x 17 dry out erase pockets (affiliate link).

After nosotros finished our quiz on the distributive property, I had students grouping upward in addition to write equally many words to hateful each symbol equally possible.

At first, most groups exclusively wrote 1 discussion inward each box. I had to continually re-emphasize that I wanted them to come upward up alongside equally many unlike words or phrases for each symbol equally possible.

After groups worked for a few minutes in addition to seemed to hold upward coming to a stopping point, I started throwing out phrases in addition to bespeak them to write them inward the right box.

For example, I would country something similar "Did whatever grouping operate the discussion sum? Good! If y'all didn't, beak over inward your grouping which box y'all should add together the discussion amount to."

The groups were e'er super excited when I called out a discussion that they had already idea of earlier I mentioned it!

This was a bully means for me to informally assess where my students stood alongside translating earlier nosotros ever started the topic.

There were a few words that tripped upward my students every hour. As I circulated around the room, I overheard several heated debates almost the discussion "product." Some students insisted that production meant multiply. Others insisted that a production was the reply to a multiplication problem. Since it was an answer, it must hateful the equal sign.

I spotted many of my students referencing my math symbols posters on the wall which made me super happy! You tin download a laid for your classroom here!

It's in addition to thus interesting to written report these answers inward to a greater extent than item from the pictures that I took equally nosotros completed the activity. In the painting exhibit below, "product", "quotient", in addition to "sum" convey all been placed the the box for =. However, "product" is also included nether multiplication. "Quotient" in addition to "sum" convey non been placed elsewhere. This grouping has also made an fault inward classifying "difference" equally division.

If I'm honest, my students got into this activity WAY to a greater extent than than I expected. They were super distressing when I made them erase their answers in addition to position the dry out erase pockets away.