Coaching Teachers to use best practices to increase English Language Learners Math scores.11/5/2019 California has traditionally been a state where many immigrants settle down and make a new home. This means having English Language Learners is a common occurrence in the California schools. Napa, Ca is no exception to this trend. In the Napa Valley Unified School District 22.2% (ed-data.org) of the students are English Language Learners (ELL). In the state of California there is a gap of 32.54% between EO (English Only) and reclassified students and their ELL peers who score at or above proficient on the states CAASPP math test. This is a huge gap and it needs to be addressed. Teachers have focused on providing specific practice in the classroom on the math vocabulary. What happened is all the classroom time was spent on vocabulary, and not on learning any math concepts. In fact, math scores decreased as a result. So, in an effort to adjust this, I, as the academic specialist, and working with both the math and ELD team to have some time in ELD set aside to focus on and work on math vocabulary. This way the math teachers will still have a chance to focus on math concepts, and the ELL students will have an extra opportunity to work on their math vocabulary. Students need to have experiences with the mathematical vocabulary beyond just writing it down. The teachers need to make a conscious effort to create authentic experiences with the math language. “Rather the emphasis should be on getting students to work in natural mathematics context (e.g.to explain mathematical problem solving) beyond the mere translation of words.” (pg. 6 Gutierrez, 2002). ELL students will have an opportunity to explore the vocabulary in both their math and ELD classes.
My plan begins by working with administration to create a plan of how to implement a plan to have ELD teachers teach math vocabulary in the ELD and AVID Excel classes. Then, I will meet with math teachers to discuss when they will introduce the week’s vocabulary into the lesson. Have them create agreements about when and how it will be done. There needs to be some kind of consistency so that ELD teachers will have notes and vocabulary to review. After the math teachers have come to an agreement i will meet with ELD and Avid Excel teachers to explain the plan of teaching math vocabulary in class. Share and discuss strategies and what can be done with the vocabulary. (flash cards, Jeopardy, AVID note review, etc.) In ELD and AVID Excel classes provide a questionnaire for students that gages their comfort with the math vocabulary. Students will answer the same questionnaire before and after teachers review and discuss the vocabulary. The data will be used to measure a students comfort level with the vocabulary words. I, as the Academic Specialist, will support ELD and Math teachers during PLCs to create a plan of how teachers will address vocabulary in the core math class and address any issues or questions that arise. I will also push into class to provide extra support to teachers and students. Next I will gather MI Data from Winter ‘20 for all EL students in school. See where there were gains, and losses. After reviewing data, PLCs will discuss what adjustments can be to improve the plan for the next trimester with the ELD and Math PLCs. The Academic Specialist continues to support teachers to implement the joint venture to support math vocabulary. Last, the Academic Specialist will gather MI Data from Spring ‘20 and see what overall growth was for the whole school year. Did our EL students make more than one year’s growth? Did they make at least one year’s growth?
2 Comments
Jeremy Smith
11/5/2019 06:18:31 pm
That plan makes a lot of sense, Kathy. Getting the ELD and Math teachers coordinated around when and how to teach, (and students to learn and use), math vocab is a great idea. I hope your efforts are successful!
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Krista Loper
11/6/2019 10:18:24 am
Your plan seems very important to our math and ELD teacher, and many other subject areas as well. vocabulary can be very hard to teach and teachers will appreciate the work you are doing
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