Making Mathematics Accessible to English Learners

A Guidebook for Teachers, Grades 6-12

By: John Carr, Ursula Sexton, Rachel Lagunoff, Catherine Carroll, Sarah Cremer, Mardi Gale

This practical book helps upper elementary, middle, and high school mathematics teachers effectively reach English learners in their classrooms. Designed for teachers who have had limited preparation for teaching mathematics to English learners, the guide offers an integrated approach to teaching mathematics content and English language skills, including guidance on best instructional practices from the field, powerful and concrete strategies for teaching mathematics content along with academic language, and sample lesson scenarios that can be implemented immediately in any mathematics class. It includes:

• Rubrics to help teachers identify the most important language skills at five ELD levels
• Practical guidance and tips from research and the field
• Seven scaffolding strategies for differentiating instruction
• Seven tools to promote mathematical language
• Assessment techniques and accommodations to lower communication barriers for English learners
• Three integrated lesson scenarios demonstrating how to combine and embed these various strategies, tools, techniques, and approaches

Chapter topics include teaching inquiry-based mathematics, understanding first and second language development, teaching the language of mathematics, scaffolding mathematics learning, and applying strategies in the classroom.

Making Mathematics Accessible to English Learners Professional Development is available.