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Teaching Math to English Language Learners: Can Research Help? (Language…
Teaching Math to English Language Learners: Can Research Help?
Common belief: Mathematics classes in English are easy for English language learners (ELLs) because math was less language-dependent than other subjects
Language Factors
Vocab/semantics difficulties
Multiple terms for the same thing
Discourse difficulties
Logical connections, cultural differences
Vocabulary/Syntax difficulties
All the numbers greater/less than X
Classroom Discourse
Collaborative learning
promote a child's understanding of mathematics by presenting prompts using conversational language
Sociocultural Issues
Using student's culture to make what they are learning more relevant
Emphasis on beliefs and values which are often rooted in history and traditions
To make math learning meaningful, teachers should connect math concepts with children's own experiences (to culture)
Utilize their own stories to make math problems
Teachers Role
Teachers must know how to structure small-group interaction so that students can and will take advantage of the safe environment
Encourage students to use their primary language in learning mathematics if they are more comfortable doing so
Providing Non-Linguistic math materials to facilitate math language
Need to explore math material, make mistakes, and make sense of math using materials
Concrete materials need to be used not as a goal, but rather as a vehicle to facilitate and develop ELL's understanding of math language and math content
Providing Sentence Frames
"Can you say more?"
Provides ELL's a foothold into conversations and enrich their learning
Provides respectful conversation/vocabulary