Although we have now concluded National Hispanic Heritage Month, we need to continue to remember to support our students who experience English as their second language. In this Newsletter, we offer strategies and resources to support multilingual learners and invite you to think about two things as you consider this information:
Students may come from homes that are multilingual, even if they have not been identified within the school system. Parents or extended family may depend on the use of other languages and students may not speak English outside of school.
Many of the strategies and resources included here are also useful for native English speakers, either because they struggle with certain aspects of literacy or just because the materials are developed using universal design for learning that benefits all.
Supporting Multilingual Learners in Math Instruction
Students who speak a language other than English come to our schools with a wide range of mathematical skills. Strategies that support multilingual learners in math instruction include building their background knowledge, explicitly teaching academic vocabulary, providing sentence stems, and using technology. These strategies are detailed in an article called, “Math Instruction for English Language Learners,” on the website ¡Colorín colorado!
Washington state also now has access to specific English language development (ELD) standards for mathematical language with the newly adopted WIDA ELD Standards Framework (PDF). Teachers in Washington can access free professional learning that utilizes these standards in the asynchronous e-workshop, “Developing Language for Learning in Mathematics.” Use this link to register through pdEnroller and for instructions on how to access this workshop through the WIDA Secure Portal.
Just Released: Positioning Multilingual Learners for Success in Mathematics
Earlier this month, the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics and TODOS: Mathematics for ALL released a joint position paper that acknowledges that multilingual learners are students who possess knowledge, strengths and resources; calls for educators to work collaboratively and with families to support their learning; and offers strategies for implementing the joint position statement.
Read more at: Multilingual Learners Position Paper
Title III and TBIP provide supplemental funding possibilities for multilingual learners
While there are limitations on the use of Title III and TBIP (Tribal and Bilingual Instructional Programs) funds, there are many ways that they can support multilingual students and their teachers. See the Washington State Multilingual/English Learners Policies and Practices Guide for definitions, laws, and acceptable uses of funds.
Little Questions for Big Conversations
We shared this strategy in the Mathematics Newsletter at Home for parents last month and see it as an opportunity to make connections between schools and families, not only for PK-3 but all grades.
Sometimes a simple question can lead to rich discussion and learning. Our question for this fall is:
What Repeats?
In an image, such as the one you see to the left, there are many options for repetition and patterns. Ask the question and see what happens!
In your classroom, you can share other images that lead to thinking about structure and repetition (SMP 7 & 8), or invite students to find and bring mathematically interesting pictures to share.
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Want more ideas for seeing repetition and patterns? There are many resources available, but two of our favorites are Math Anywhere and Visual Patterns.
Exploring Math Through Stories
Great stories are a wonderful way to get young people of all ages excited and interested in mathematics. The annual book prize, Mathical: Books for Kids from Tots to Teens, recognizes the most inspiring math-related fiction and nonfiction books that bring the wonder of math to life.
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(2020 Mathical Prize Winner)
Written by Jennifer Swender
Ages 8-10
When Mika starts fifth grade at the middle school, her neat life gets messy. Separated from old friends and starting new classes, Mika is far from her comfort zone. And math class is the most confusing of all, especially when her teacher Mr. Vann assigns math journals. Art in math? Who’s ever heard of such a thing? But when challenges arise at home, Mika realizes there are no easy answers. Maybe, with some help from friends, family, and one unique teacher, a math journal can help her work out problems, and not just the math ones.
Key Math Concepts
- Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them (SMP 1)
- Construct arguments and critique the reasoning of others (SMP 3)
- Use multiple representations to solve problems
Supporting Multilingual Learners
- Watch for vocabulary that may be new for students or has multiple definitions, and provide explanation for those terms.
- Encourage students to use the journal entries in the book to help them make sense of the problems presented.
- In journals allow students to work in their native language for words to accompany their representations.
Resources
Want to enjoy Mathical books with the children around you? Try this strategy to help students discover a broader understanding of an inclusive classroom.
Copyright © 2020 All Rights Reserved. Mathematical Sciences Research Institute
Modernizing Algebra II
OSPI is partnering with educators from K-12 and higher ed, as well as business, industry and military representatives across Washington to create Modern Algebra II. The course will meet university admission expectations while offering students prioritized algebra content and additional relevant mathematics to build their skills, problem solving capability and reasoning processes. Instructional materials are in development with plans to pilot during 2022-23. Pilot applications will be made available to districts in January 2022.
Materials Development Teams are currently being formed. Washington educators interested in contributing to building Modern Algebra II can send an email to mathematics@k12.wa.us with a brief explanation of their experience with teaching high school mathematics and why they are interested in participating in the project.
Bridge to College Math
The Bridge to College Math leadership team often receives questions from instructional coaches who want to become more familiar with the course to support their teachers. Additionally, administrators or curriculum directors have similar requests or ask to know more to decide if BtCM is right for their school or district.
To assist those who want to support teachers of Bridge to College Math or are making decisions about offering the course in 2022-23, we are offering an abbreviated version of the asynchronous professional learning that many new teachers complete. This short self-paced course will be open November 15, 2021 through January 30, 2022. Use this registration link to receive an invitation to the asynchronous Canvas course.
Additional Information about BtCM can be found at bridgetocollegecourses.org and OSPI or contact OSPI Director of Mathematics, Arlene Crum at arlene.crum@k12.wa.us or 360-789-7143.
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Modeling Our World with Mathematics
Asynchronous Institute to re-open
Are you new to teaching MOWWM but missed the Summer Institute? Are you looking for context based high school mathematics modules to enrich a different math course? Are you a coach who would like to support teachers of MOWWM in your district, or an administrator or curriculum director considering MOWWM for 2022-23? The MOWWM Asynchronous Institute will re-open November 1-December 15 to support you. Register here to receive a link to the course when it re-opens.
Additional Information about MOWWM can be found on the OSPI website or contact OSPI Director of Mathematics, Arlene Crum at arlene.crum@k12.wa.us or 360-789-7143.
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Smarter Balanced Practice and Training Tests will be available soon!
Some students may not be familiar with the online testing interface for the Smarter Balanced ELA and math tests, or they may have forgotten how to answer different question types. The Practice and Training Tests are available in the WCAP portal if students need a refresher on how the tests look, where different buttons are located and what they do, and how to navigate in the testing system for fall testing.
Need Smarter Balanced Interim Questions for Class Discussion?
As a result of fall testing, the interims will not be available within the TA Interface until November 15. In the meantime, the Smarter Balanced Interim Assessment Item Portal (IAIP) houses questions from this year's interims. Those questions are available in the IAIP now! The IAIP is accessed within Tools for Teachers (bottom of the grey menu, on the left side of the landing page) and provides access to interim questions, information including DOK, difficulty, and an answer key, and questions can be searched for either by test name, or standard. Additionally, it is possible to select individual questions from different interims to create custom groupings of questions for more tailored class discussion. A brief training on the IAIP is available on the OSPI YouTube channel. More information about the 2021-2022 Smarter Balanced Interims can be found in the Interim Assessment Overview document.
For more information or questions about mathematics assessments, contact OSPI Mathematics Assessment Specialist, Serena O’Neill at serena.oneill@k12.wa.us or 360-725-6437.
Providing Access to On-Grade-Level Content in Mathematics through Vertical Alignment
Participants will explore, develop, and apply strategies for supporting student math learning in our 3rd Covid-impacted school year. Our learning will include ways to approach unfinished learning, determining what (and what NOT) to teach, and strategies for engaging students.
When: November 1, 2021 & December 6, 2021
Sessions: Zoom, 3:30–5:00
Register: pdEnroller
Free
K-2 Elementary Math Foundations
Three 1.5 hours virtual professional learning sessions with 1 hour of reflection after each session.
- Doing Math together (Student discourse, math productive instructional routines)
- Content learning & discussion (Number Sense, Fluency)
- Deepening understanding of math content
- Using effective classroom routines (Student discourse, math productive instructional routines)
When: December 8, 2021, February 8, 2022, April 19, 2022
Sessions: Zoom, 3:00-4:30
Register: pdEnroller
7.5 Clock Hours available for purchase
3-5 Elementary Math Foundations
Three 1.5 hours virtual professional learning sessions with 1 hour of reflection after each session.
- Doing Math together (Student discourse, math productive instructional routines)
- Content learning & discussion (Number Sense, Fluency)
- Deepening understanding of math content
- Using effective classroom routines (Student discourse, math productive instructional routines)
When: December 9, 2021, February 9, 2022, April 20, 2022
Sessions: Zoom, 3:00-4:30
Register: pdEnroller
7.5 Clock Hours available for purchase
News to Share?
Do you have news that is of statewide interest you would like to share?
Do you have stories that recognize Math educators doing good work in grades K-12?
We encourage administrators and educators to submit stories of districts, schools, classrooms, or community organizations promoting Math. Please send your submissions to: mathematics@k12.wa.us
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