ENGAGING ELLS PRODUCTIVELY IN MATH CLASSES

All too often, ELLs struggle with math content language.  They may get the concept, but they have a difficult time navigating the language of the problem.  Imagine a very simple addition problem for elementary school such as the following:

14 boys and 13 girls went on a fieldtrip to a museum.  How many children went on the trip altogether? 

Problems here for the ELLs are several.  First, the problem talks about boys and girls.  Adding -s to a noun often times makes it plural.  However, the problem now puts in the word CHILDREN.  If the student is an ELL, s/he might be confused on where the word CHILDREN came from.  Then, the ELL sees the word FIELDTRIP.  S/he knows what the words FIELD (open area where games are played) and TRIP (going somewhere to visit someone or a special place) mean individually, but together presents a meaning that may be totally new for her/him.  Last, the word ALTOGETHER is another way of telling the reader to add, but it might not be a vocabulary word the student is familiar with.  So, the bottom line is that teachers may wish to rewrite problems or explain with visuals, cognate dictionaries, etc. words that may be new for ELLs.  How can a teacher know what is new for the student?  Have him/her try to explain what is expected of him/her to do in the problem.  It is at that moment the student will either stumble through it due to language issues or arrive at the correct interpretation on his/her own.

How does a teacher build math (algebra, geometry, trigonometry) vocabulary for ELLs?  Graphic organizers can be quite productive here:  Venn-diagrams to show similarities and differences, charts where terms with like meanings are grouped together (see example on site where under ADDITION, four different terms for the action are listed), concept maps, word walls, math journals where students can keep running records of what they learned in class on any given day,  etc.  For ELLs to make connections to math terminology, they need to be surrounded by it in meaningful formats. 

CONNECTED MATHEMATICS PROJECT offers some very effective, practical, and easy to implement approaches to demystify math language for ELLs. It is a good starting point:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Boardwalk Butcher Paper, 36 x 900', White (Google Affiliate Ad)

Crayola Original Markers - Broad Line, Classic Colors, 10 ct. (Google Affiliate Ad)

Spanish-English Cognates/Los Cognados Espanoles-Ingleses (Google Affiliate Ad)

FREE Math Worksheet Generators for All Levels of Mathematics:)

Math teachers are always looking for practice work for their students beyond the textbook.  Here are three sites that will allow a teacher to design and print out activity sheets for their students with just a few clicks.  Each one is FREE! 

What math is covered?  CREATE MATH WORKSHEETS covers basic math facts, telling time, working with money, word scrambles, and mazes.  Though this is more in line with elementary school, older ELL/ESL students with limited school experience from their home countries would benefit from it as part of their English language development/ESL classes.

FUN MATH addresses high school math:  basic math, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and statistics.  There are also lots of math games (math logic) and puzzles.  Last, take a look at FUN STUFF.  See math application problems tied to the real world.

MATHSHEET GENERATOR allows algebra to generate worksheets with ease.  Two clicks covering the topic of the day and the teacher will have a worksheet! 

Hope these sites meet your needs:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS 

Texas Instruments TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator TI-84PLUS (Google Affiliate Ad)
LEARNING RESOURCES LER0053 CALCULATOR CADDY (Google Affiliate Ad)

Common Core: Trigonometry in the REAL WORLD

With common core assessments taking on real world applications, teachers will need to find creative ways to apply core content material to life outside the classroom.  For math, this connection would dramatically raise the test scores for many of the English language learners currently failing those classes.

Is it a difficult concept to build that bridge to real world applications?  No, not at all.  Once students see that the letters and numbers serve vital functions in the real world, they see the content in a whole new light.  From this point, college and career counselors can tap that understanding and guide students to colleges where their skills will be honed and that will lead to solid jobs in the work force.

TRIG IN THE REAL WORLD  Though trigonometry is a course which many students try to avoid, it is one required for entrance to many major institutions of higher learning.  What can a student use trig for?  What purpose does it serve outside the classroom?  This video clip goes into detail on what areas of public life trig fits neatly into.  Students will be amazed, and, with the new common core performance based assessments, students taking trig will be able to use their creativity to use their knowledge of trig to solve engineering problems. 

The video is actually fascinating.  Students will probably have many questions to pose.  This is where it would pay to bring in some guest speakers who use trig in their line of work:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROSTexas Instruments Dual Power Scientific Calculator - Calculators (Google Affiliate Ad)

Liven Up Math Classes With These Videos--Great Additional Support for Struggling Learners

Math language can cause problems for many English language learners.  Math word problems are especially difficult because the language around the word problem can often times be a challenge.  As a very basic example, look at the many synonyms for "DECREASE":  subtract, take away from, lowered by, reduce, minus, etc.  Then there are the NON-MATH words in the problems.  Look at this basic math problem for elementary school:

Five boys and three girls went on a field trip.  How many children went on the field trip all together?

First problem--the problem starts off with BOYS and GIRLS and then combines the two to make CHILDREN.  An ELL will wonder where that word came from (unless the teacher has addressed it).  Then there is the word "FIELD TRIP."  FIELD TRIP to many ELLs would mean a school yard or big open area with trees and lots of room to run and play.  Again, unless the teacher explains that there is not connection between a field and a field trip, the student will be confused.  Last, the words "all together."  To an English speaking student, that means ADD.  That will be a new word for the ELL.   So math teachers will also need to be English language teachers no matter what level of math they teach:)

Since math becomes increasingly more difficult as ELLs move on to middle school and high school, the same problem still faces them---the language of math.  Teachers need to develop the math language before the ELL can undertake solving the problem.

The video sites below offer more support for struggling students both ELLs and EOs.  Since it is visually presented in simple formats, it should be comprehensible for the majority of students.  Students hear the problem, see it drawn out, and watch it being solved as the teacher carefully covers each step of the process slowly and accurately (with a dose of humor throughout).  Further, these are sites that they can access at home, school library, on smart phones, iPads, tablets, etc.  For such students to know that they can revisit a math activity as often as they like until they finally understand it eases some of the stress of trying to learn English and content at the same time. 

Both sites are free of course though they do want students and teachers to register.  If students don't feel comfortable doing this, the teacher can just load these sites on class computers for students to use as needed.

Please note that though I am not a math teacher, I am an instructional coach who looks for practical ways to support all teachers with ELLs in their classes.  So what I share with you here, I pass on to colleagues:)


MATH VIDEOS FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS

HIGH SCHOOL MATH AND BEYOND!

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Canon LS-82Z 8 Digit Basic Calculator LS82ZA (Google Affiliate Ad)
HP g6-1d60us Notebook PC (Google Affiliate Ad)
Acer A200 Iconia Tablet, 16 GB, Titanium Gray XE.H8QPN.001 (Google Affiliate Ad)

DEMYSTIFY MATH PROBLEM SOLVING PROCESSES FOR STUDENTS

For many students, math classes consist of textbook activities and regular assessments.  Due to the pressures of state assessments, high school exit exams, PSAT, SAT, etc., teachers are under a great deal of pressure to stick with the text.  This type of instructional delivery will be changing over the next two years in that now students will be able to SEE how, for example, quadratic equations are used in the real world outside of the math class.  Relevance will be a major component of the new math class.  Teachers might be able to share with kids what they really love about math, what inspired them to pursue studies here and not in another discipline, etc.  Hopefully their love of the subject will catch fire in their classrooms:)

So, how does a teacher bring in project based learning projects into a math class?  Here are some good examples to start with:  statistics, geometry, algebra, and trigonometry.  PROJECT-students are to design a shopping mall.  Notice that for each activity, students are going from known (ex. the structure of a shopping mall) to the unknown (how to use prior knowledge with newly acquired math tools to construct a totally new version of a mall). They will be taking on roles of architects who must design different store sizes to accommodate the needs of prospective merchants, restrooms that allow for minimal care, landscaping within the mall for customers to sit and relax in, an original layout that will draw shoppers, etc.  Math is naturally woven throughout the project.   Since this would be a team effort, each member in the small group could focus on one component of the mall with the understanding that individuals must report out to the group and reach a consensus on the final design.  Students should keep detailed notes on their results and how they arrived at their project contributions.  (ELLs especially would benefit from this since they would be actively acquiring academic vocabulary within context.)  Such skills would easily transfer to the global workforce these students will be a part of when they finish their formal studies.  See the link for some additional ideas.PROJECT BASED LEARNING ACTIVITIES IN MATH CLASSROOMS

One suggestion I would offer is that if this approach is new, start out small.  Make notes on what worked and what didn't.  Move on to next project and keep a little journal on how it worked out.  Hang in there.  I guarantee that students will never forget the experience.  Who knows?  There may be some future astronauts, astronomers, architects, engineers, etc. in the class. 

Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS

Lenovo G570 Notebook 4334DBU (Google Affiliate Ad)
Acer A200 Iconia Tablet, 16 GB, Titanium Gray XE.H8QPN.001 (Google Affiliate Ad)

More on Khan Academy--An Outstanding Academic Resource for ALL Students Including ELLs!

Imagine the possibility of students doing the "classwork" at home and the "homework" in school:)  In some schools, this already being done through Khan Academy!  Students work on assignments at home through Khan Tutorials.  These videos are typically about 15 minutes long and are followed by practice.  The system keeps track of progress so the teacher can monitor quality of student work with ease.  Such insight permits the teacher to quickly discern who needs more coaching the next day in class and how much.  For students who seem to have mastered the assigned skill, the teacher can send them on to more complex projects or concepts.  Again, everything the students do, the teacher can track on her/his computer.  Some schools are even keeping their computer labs open late so that ALL children can work with the system.  The passing rates for academically struggling students has improved dramatically for these schools.

Would you like to know more about Sal Khan and how Khan Academy came into existence?  See his interview on 60 Minutes.  60 MINUTES INTERVIEW WITH SAL KHAN  He lives in the Silicon Valley and records his lessons right from his home.  For subject areas he hasn't seen in quite a while, he gets a few textbooks to brush up on the content before he does the videos.  His voice is easy to listen to and his notes on the black screen are in color and easy to follow.

For information on the layout of Khan Academy, see this link:   INFORMATION ABOUT KHAN ACADEMY  Here teachers are provided guidance in setting up assignments and monitoring student progress.  Students earn badges as they successfully complete lessons.  In fact, teachers can even add smiley faces if they like:)  It is amazing how much things as simple as badges can motivate students. 

KHAN DASHBOARD Explores KNOWLEDGE MAPS and how they keep track of progress.  Teachers or students select the area they wish to study (go to SEARCH and enter the subject to be studied).  As students answer questions correctly in the practice, they earn badges.  If they enter the wrong answers, they can watch a video tutorial on how to find the answer.  Imagine how powerful it is for students to have access to immediate tutoring as they encounter problems as opposed to waiting for the next day to see the teacher.


LIBRARY OF OVER 3000 INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS
Here is the current list of all instructional videos on file.  More are being added in new content areas regularly.

Sign up!  It is free.  If you have computers in your classroom, have your students sign up.  They will develop a new self-confidence in their abilities to do math (at any level):)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS

Model FX-300MS Scientific Calculator, 10x2 Display - Calculators
Asus TF300T-B1-BL Tablet PC

FREE Multimedia Approach to Supporting ELLs in ALL Levels of Mathematics

With the new common core standards in mathematics, teachers will need to have students address ongoing problem solving in all areas of math.  The book alone will no longer drive instruction.  High stakes tests will soon take a back seat as students apply all areas of math to life beyond the classroom.  In such a learning environment where students are encouraged to work as teams in finding multiple solutions to real world problems, math will become relevant to all including the ELL.  Word problems will be ones encountered in business.  Team problem solving will take precedence over struggling in isolation.  With such a radical transformation of the classroom, ELLs will develop more confidence in dealing with math since it will finally be accessible.

This site is an excellent multimedia resource covering all areas of math through trigonometry.  Each level of math is accompanied by videos of real world application.  A video often times makes a world of difference to an ELL.  The visual component allows them to SEE the problem and hear the problem discussed.  Once the task is assigned by the teacher, this background information along with the low anxiety of working within a small group (or partner) has the potential to build an ELL's confidence in offering her/his ideas to solve the problem or task.  With a team work approach, students quickly learn that there is more than one way to come to an answer.  Isn't that the goal of team work in the real world?

MATH INTERACTIVES

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS


Texas Instruments TI-1795-SV Desktop Calculator TI-1795SV
Sharp EL377TB 10 Digit Basic Calculator
Casio FX-9750GII Graphic Calculator FX9750GII-WE

Khan Academy--114 Geometry Videos To Support Your Instruction

If you are looking to develop more review support in your math classes for your ELLs and others, you should take a look at Khan Academy.  It covers all areas of mathematics and science.  The videos are simple to follow and clearly would support a teacher's instruction.  Further, if you have ELLs in your classes, you can find translations in every subject.  Imagine having a newly arrived Mandarin only speaker and offering this site as a tool to access the content of your lesson.  The anxiety level of that ELL would definitely drop since he or she would not be totally in the dark in following your activity.  KHAN LANGUAGES lists all the languages available on the site.

For this post, I pulled out only one subject area--KHAN ACADEMY GEOMETRY.  Within this section are 114 videos all on geometry.  The total viewing time is slightly over 15 hours.  Though the amount of time on each subject component varies, they typically do not exceed 10 minutes more or less.  Access to the site is free and open to anyone.  Since ELLs typically need to jump two hurdles academically--language and content, they would benefit from such online support because it would provide them with additional practice in mastering the content.

Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS

PS  If you use CHROME as your browser, you may have a problem accessing my blog.  What you should do is ENTER the site (ignore the warnings--for some reason it has a problem with WORDPRESS BLOGS---and then bookmark it.  Once bookmarked, the problem is fixed:)

FREE Video Support and More in BASIC Math THROUGH Calculus:)

If you have your own website or a blog for your students in your math class, you might want to add this one. The videos are delivered through engaging teachers who really seem to enjoy all phases of math instruction. If you want kids to develop an interest in math, you need to be enthusiastic about it. Teacher enthusiasm about her/his subject can be quite infectious:)

This site could be that extra support for those (especially ELLs) who need more time to process the information. Students can watch them at home as often as they like for free. If browsing for videos doesn't offer exactly what you want, check by book. Click on the copy you are using in your class, and all the videos will be listed in the order that they appear in the textbook.

Students can also input problems on their own if they need help in solving them, but they will only receive the answer. If they need the steps that take you to the answer, there is a fee. However, students can always bring the problem to class where the problem could be solved in class either in small groups or whole class discussion.

Students can also get help from the MATH HELP forum. Immediate answer only responses are free.


BRIGHTSTORM -- free support for your math classes:)

Denise

ELL TEACHER PROS