Program
Education K-12 M.A.
Number of Pages
54
Year Approved
2022
First Advisor
Elliott, Nathan
Second Reader
Lisa Silmser;
Abstract
Math performance for ELL students continues to lag behind that of their native-speaking counterparts. While researching best practice when teaching ELL math, I found that many ELL students do not have equal opportunities when it comes to math. Many ELL students are placed in a math classroom that is below grade-level. In addition to misplacement, many ELL students do not receive adequate vocabulary and English support within the subject of mathematics, especially when attempting multi-step problems or word problems. Accelerating the learning of ELL students by providing interventions and advanced material helped improve achievement. In addition, emphasizing vocabulary while leveraging native language knowledge helps ELL students contextualize and master academic vocabulary. Many of the issues ELL students face in mathematics stem from a lack of vocabulary or academic language knowledge rather than difficulty with computation or mathematical skills. Finally, promoting self-efficacy and metacognition positively impacted ELL math achievement.
Degree Name
Education K-12 M.A.
Document Type
Masterʼs thesis
Recommended Citation
Holman, Z. E. (2022). ELL Mathematics: Best Practice and Methodology [Masterʼs thesis, Bethel University]. Spark Repository. https://spark.bethel.edu/etd/884