Explicit attention to vocabulary and notation reduces confusion, supports comprehension, and enables focus on reasoning.
Highlight newly introduced notation by explaining usage/misusage (e.g., d/dx vs. dy/dx, function composition vs. multiplication, etc.)
The Texas Center for Learning Disabilities shares 5 research-based strategies for teaching vocabulary
Create a running document with important vocabulary, and/or common mistakes/strategies, and reference it in instruction to model its usage regularly
Access to short, targeted videos supports comprehension, reduces cognitive overload, and enables self-paced engagement with complex concepts.
Invest the time in creating effective educational videos for key vocabulary and content that is consistently a challenge for students.
Visual representations alongside symbolic and verbal forms support sense-making, clarify relationships, and build conceptual understanding.
Desmos Graphing Calculator is a support for creating quality visuals, using them in real time, and modeling change and various situations. The Desmos Free Suite of Math Tools are useful for various math contexts and problems.
Linking multiple representations supports conceptual understanding, flexible thinking, and transfer across contexts.
Discuss the interplay between various representations of mathematical concepts: four ways to represent a function (Stewart, 2016)*
*Stewart, J. (2016). Calculus: Early Transcendentals (8th ed.). Cengage.