Teachers of mathematics and ESL teachers alike struggle to close the gap between native English speaking students and English language learners of all ages when it comes to the multifaceted subject of math. What is the best way to teach students who are learning difficult mathematical concepts at the same time that they are learning a difficult new language?
Jana Echevarria, MaryEllen Vogt, and Deborah J. Short, the authors of the popular SIOP model books [Pearson Education] have focused their attention on answering this very question in their newest book The SIOP Model for Teaching Mathematics to English Learners [Allyn & Bacon, 2009]. Math and ESL teachers will find this to be an invaluable resource. However, the authors caution in their preface that this book is not for the uninitiated.
The SIOP Model Showcases Best Practices in ESL Instruction
SIOP® (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) is a research-based model originally devised as a way to instruct teachers of English language learners in best practices for concurrently teaching both grade-level academic content and delivering explicit instruction in academic language. The model provides an outline for systematic instruction that includes eight key components: lesson preparation, building background, comprehensible input, strategies, interaction, practice and application, lesson delivery, and review and assessment.
However, the earlier SIOP books were general in their scope, attempting to encompass a broad spectrum of subject areas. The SIOP Model for Teaching Mathematics to English Learners is a slim volume, but totally dedicated to a single subject matter: math.
Echevarria, Vogt, and Short advise teachers who have had no previous instruction in the SIOP model to read one of their earlier books or participate in a SIOP professional development workshop prior to using the SIOP math book. The authors feel strongly that becoming familiar with the model is key to gaining the most benefit from this particular edition.
Teaching Math to Elementary, Middle School and High School ESL Students
After a thorough discussion regarding the academic language of mathematics (Chapter 1) and a description of how to design SIOP lesson plans and units (Chapters 2 - 4), the authors of TheSIOP Model for Teaching Mathematics to English Learners address the specific needs of grade level groupings. Obviously, no single book can encompass the broad spectrum of mathematical content and vocabulary that is taught at each of the grade levels. Rather, the authors use the sample lessons and units to illustrate a framework for teaching this critical subject to English language learners.
The K-2 primary grades lesson planning chapter focuses on using concrete approaches to teaching abstract math concepts and language to very young learners. For teachers of upper elementary (grades 3-5), the focus on academic content and language continues, but there is an additional emphasis on metacognitive strategies – teaching the students to monitor their own thinking.
The SIOP model recognizes that middle school (grades 6-8) is a transitional stage as these children enter adolescence. While the mathematical content and language becomes more complex and abstract than what was taught in the earlier grades, the focus now is on creating a learning environment that is exciting, language rich, safe, supportive, and challenging.
The lesson plans and unit design for high school mathematics (grades 9-12) appreciates the critical need for both challenging mathematical understanding and a high level of academic English language proficiency for ESL students facing intimidating graduation requirements. The sample units illustrate a format to achieve these dual goals.
About the Authors of the SIOP Model
Echevarria, Vogt, and Short are all researchers who have years of experience working in k-12 general and special education, as well as ESL and bilingual classrooms. Jana Echevarria and MaryEllen Vogt are both professors at California State University in Long Beach. Deborah J. Short is a senior research associate at the Center of Applied Linguistics in Washington, D.C. They have collaborated on the highly successful SIOP instructional model for over 15 years.
The advantage to using the SIOP model for teaching mathematics is that while it was designed to teach ESL students, the protocol is beneficial to native English-speaking students as well. Teachers do not need to devise and teach separate lessons. All students will benefits from the instructional format and the lesson activities and ideas found in Echevarria, Vogt, and Short’s book.
For information about teaching English language learners, read "Understanding ESL Students' Language Development" and "Strategies to Support ESL Students in Math."
Margaret M. Williams - Margaret M. Williams (Peggy) has been a teacher for over 25 years. She currently teaches first grade in a classroom that combines native ...
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