Do No Harm: Why Precision in Notation Is a Non-Negotiable

Join the Math Collective!

Hey Educators, welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, we’re continuing our journey through The Math Pact: Achieving Instructional Coherence and Visible Learning for Mathematics. Last time, we discussed the impact of language on student understanding. Today, we’re shifting our focus to notation—a seemingly small detail that can make or break comprehension in math classrooms.

Are the symbols we use actually reducing cognitive load for students, or are they unintentionally adding confusion? We’ll explore critical topics like:
✅ The true meaning of the equal sign and why so many students misunderstand it
✅ Why it’s time to ditch the “alligator mouth” when teaching inequalities
✅ The importance of consistency in notation—like using italics for x and properly writing units of measurement
✅ The impact of mathematical precision on student confidence and long-term success

Mathematics is a gateway to opportunity, and our students deserve clarity. By refining our language and notation, we can empower them to truly understand math—not just do it.

🔗 Check out this helpful resource on metric area measurement: https://www.mathsisfun.com/measure/metric-area.html

📌 Standards for Mathematical Practice:
1️⃣ Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them
2️⃣ Reason abstractly and quantitatively
3️⃣ Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others
4️⃣ Model with mathematics
5️⃣ Use appropriate tools strategically
6️⃣ Attend to precision
7️⃣ Look for and make use of structure
8️⃣ Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

Let’s commit to doing better—because now, we know better. Keep making math happen, and I’ll see you next time!

Send us a text

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of PD for the Soul! If you enjoyed today’s conversation, don’t forget to follow, leave a review, and share this episode with your fellow educators.

You can also join the discussion and connect with me directly by clicking the link to join the Math Collective. Together, we’ll keep exploring practical strategies to transform classrooms and inspire students.

Remember, new episodes drop every Sunday at 9:00 am, so mark your calendars! Until next time, keep making math happen, and I’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you like math videos, let's connect:

• YouTube
• TikTok