Our professional learning sessions this year continue to focus on routines to help our growing English Learner population. However, these language routines are beneficial for all students because they help with reinforcing mathematical terminology, scaffolding conversations, and by providing opportunities for students to deepen their conceptual understanding by describing their work. They are a structured format for amplifying, assessing and developing students' language.
We will dedicate the next few blog posts to following up on the routines we shared in our opening sessions. First we will begin by reviewing the key points of the first routine:
Purpose: To provide a structured and interactive opportunity for students to revise and refine both their ideas and their verbal and written output (Zwiers, 2014).
Throughout this process, students should be pressed for details, and encouraged to press each other for details. Subsequent drafts should show evidence of incorporating or addressing new ideas or language. They should also show evidence of refinement in precision, communication, expression, examples, and/or reasoning about mathematical concepts. Pairs borrow and use the language, ideas, and justifications each time.
Responses become:
Stronger and often longer with better examples and justifications.
Clearer with more precise terms and organized with complete sentences.
To build capacity with this routine, consider using this blank template with your students. You can find this template in your grade level shared drive.
It's a great time to think about introducing and incorporating mathematical language routines into your classroom right from the beginning! These adaptable routines are designed to support #ELLs develop language while engaging in grade-level math.
Contact your math coach for assistance as you implement this language routine.
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