2019 MidSchoolMath National Conference

How do we give English language learners access to rich problems and stories in our mathematics classrooms? How can we decrease frustration and increase engagement and participation?

Come participate in a short problem-solving lesson in Spanish to experience sheltering and scaffolding strategies that support English learners in having access to the CCSSM and Mathematical Practices. This session is designed for teachers who have zero to an intermediate level of Spanish. This session will give teachers concrete strategies and instructional moves to give language learners access to projects, 3 Act Tasks, and story problems that you are already using in your classroom. The short lesson will be in Spanish. The reflection and share outs will be in English so participants can fully participate in the professional dialogue.

This session will be interactive, engaging and give you the opportunity to step into the shoes of the English language learners in your classroom.

This session will have two presenters. One will take the teacher role with sheltering and facilitating the lesson in Spanish. The other presenter will take a coaching role, facilitating the reflection and share outs of participants about the lesson in English. Both presenters will share personal experiences about working with language learners in the mathematics classroom and the research that supports these strategies. Feedback when we have used this structure with teachers and administrators in the past has been very positive. There is nothing quite like experiencing in 15 minutes the challenges that our English language learners face all day as they navigate their different content classes.