Classroom Research On Mathematics And Language

This book offers an international perspective on the current and future state of the research, focusing, in particular, on the role and use of language in mathematics school teaching and learning. It focuses on the development of a unified view of the languages of the learners, of the teachers and of mathematics by considering the role of language in the learning, teaching and doing of mathematics in the classroom, and the current richness and plurality of language and culture. The contributions in this volume combine to show how views of language and of language research in mathematics education have changed significantly in recent decades, and how they will continue to change and become even more complex and challenging in the era of diversity. All of these contributions by leading scholars are grouped into two sections for emphasis on issues of: • Theorising the complexity of language in mathematics teaching and learning • Opening spaces of learning with mathematics classroom research on language This book will be of great interest to mathematics teachers, teacher educators, curriculum developers and mathematics education researchers who deal with the study and implementation of pedagogies of mathematics teaching and learning, specifically in regions of the world which are culturally and sociolinguistically diverse.

The way in which teachers communicate with their students partly determines what they communicate. This book addresses the communication issue by building on a series of papers whose first versions were presented in 1992 at the Sixth International Congress of Mathematics Education in Quebec. Papers include: (1) "Crossing the Gulf between Thought and Symbol: Language as (Slippery) Stepping-Stones" (Susan E.B. Pirie); (2) "Three Epistemologies, Three Views of Classroom Communication: Constructivism, Sociocultural Approaches, Interactionism" (Anna Sierpinska); (3) "Verbal Interaction in the Mathematics Classroom: A Vygotskian Analysis" (Maria G. Bartolini Bussi); (4) "Discourse and Beyond: On the Ethnography of Classroom Discourse" (Falk Seeger); (5) "From 'Stoffdidaktik' to Social Interactionism: An Evolution of Approaches to the Study of Language and Communication in German Mathematics Education Research" (Heinz Steinbring); (6) "Examining the Linguistic Mediation of Pedagogic Interactions in Mathematics" (Clive Kanes); (7) "Pupil Language-Teacher Language: Two Case Studies and the Consequences for Teacher Training" (Albrecht Abele); (8) "Teacher-Student Communication in Traditional and Constructivist Approaches to Teaching" (Maria Luiza Cestari); (9) "Alternative Patterns of Communication in Mathematics Classes: Funneling or Focusing?" (Terry Wood); (10) "Students Communicating in Small Groups: Making Sense of Data in Graphical Form" (Frances R. Curcio and Alice F. Artzt); (11) "Communication and Learning in Small-Group Discussions" (Kaye Stacey and Anne Gooding); (12) "Mathematical Communication through Small-Group Discussions" (Marta Civil); (13) "Formats of Argumentation in the Mathematics Classroom" (Gotz Krummheuer); (14) "Teaching without Instruction: The Neo-Socratic Method" (Rainer Loska); (15) "The Role of Natural Language in Prealgebraic and Algebraic Thinking" (Ferdinando Arzarello); (16) "How Students Interpret Equations: Intuition versus Taught Procedures" (Mollie MacGregor); (17) "Epistemological and Metacognitive Factors Involved in the Learning of Mathematics: The Case of Graphic Representations of Functions" (Maria Kaldrimidou and Andreas Ikonomou); (18) "Making Mathematics Accessible" (Megan Clark); (19) "Itineraries through Logic To Enhance Linguistic and Argumentative Skills" (Giancarlo Navarra); and (20)"Communication in a Secondary Mathematics Classroom: Some Images" (Judith Fonzi and Constance Smith). (ASK)

This book considers some of the outstanding questions regarding language and communication in the teaching and learning of mathematics – an established theme in mathematics education research, which is growing in prominence. Recent research has demonstrated the wide range of theoretical and methodological resources that can contribute to this area of study, including those drawing on cross-disciplinary perspectives influenced by, among others, sociology, psychology, linguistics, and semiotics. Examining language in its broadest sense to include all modes of communication, including visual and gestural as well as spoken and written modes, it features work presented and discussed in the Language and Communication topic study group (TSG 31) at the 13th International Congress on Mathematical Education (ICME-13). A joint session with participants of the Mathematics Education in a Multilingual and Multicultural Environment topic study group (TSG 32) enhanced discussions, which are incorporated in elaborations included in this book. Discussing cross-cutting topics it appeals to readers from a wide range of disciplines, such as mathematics education and research methods in education, multilingualism, applied linguistics and beyond.

Describes strategies for helping children learn about math in which students write, draw, and talk to each other about the individual ways they work through math concepts.

Contemporary concerns in mathematics education recognize that in the increasingly technological and globalized world, with concomitant change in population demographics (e.g. immigration, urbanization) and a change in the status of languages (e.g. English as a dominant language of science and technology) multilingualism in classrooms is a norm rather than an exception. Shifts in perspective also view language not simply as an instrument for cognition with all learners equipped with this instrument in service of learning, although clearly in the classroom that remains of importance. Rather, it is now also being acknowledged that language use is inherently political, so that the language that gets official recognition in the classroom is invariably the language of the powerful elite, or the dominant societal language, or in the case of post-colonial contexts the language of the colonisers. From this socio-political role of language in learning quite different issues arise for teaching, learning and curriculum for linguistically marginalized learners than that of cognition (e.g. immigrants, second language learners, other). Policies on language in education are being considered and re-considered with specific reference to mathematics teaching and learning. Given the policy environment, globally the proposed publication is timely. This edited collection draws on recent, emerging insights and understandings about the approaches to improving policy and practice in mathematics education and mathematics teacher education in multilingual settings. It presents, and discusses critically, examples of work from a range of contexts and uses these examples to draw out key issues for research in education in language diverse settings including teaching, learning, curriculum and fit these with appropriate policy and equity approaches. With contributions from all over the world, especially novice researchers in low income countries, this book is a valuable resource for courses in Mathematics Education and related social sciences both at the graduate and undergraduate levels, as well as for students of international development.

Using strengths-based approaches to support development in mathematics It’s time to re-imagine what’s possible and celebrate the brilliance multilingual learners bring to today’s classrooms. Innovative teaching strategies can position these learners as leaders in mathematics. Yet, as the number of multilingual learners in North American schools grows, many teachers have not had opportunities to gain the competencies required to teach these learners effectively, especially in disciplines such as mathematics. Multilingual learners—historically called English Language Learners—are expected to interpret the meaning of problems, analyze, make conjectures, evaluate their progress, and discuss and understand their own approaches and the approaches of their peers in mathematics classrooms. Thus, language plays a vital role in mathematics learning, and demonstrating these competencies in a second (or third) language is a challenging endeavor. Based on best practices and the authors’ years of research, this guide offers practical approaches that equip grades K-8 teachers to draw on the strengths of multilingual learners, partner with their families, and position these learners for success. Readers will find: • A focus on multilingual students as leaders • A strength-based approach that draws on students’ life experiences and cultural backgrounds • An emphasis on maintaining high expectations for learners’ capacity for mastering rigorous content • Strategies for representing concepts in different formats • Stop and Think questions throughout and reflection questions at the end of each chapter • Try It! Implementation activities, student work examples, and classroom transcripts With case studies and activities that provide a solid foundation for teachers’ growth and exploration, this groundbreaking book will help teachers and teacher educators engage in meaningful, humanized mathematics instruction.

Strengthen mathematical understandings and academic vocabulary with standards-based strategies! With straightforward language and examples, the authors help teachers develop specialized understanding and knowledge of strategies for supporting a high level of mathematics learning along with language acquisition for ELLs. Providing specific suggestions for teaching standards-based mathematics, this resource: Demonstrates how to incorporate ELL supports and strategies through sample lessons Uses concrete materials and visuals to connect mathematical concepts with language development Focuses on essential mathematical vocabulary Includes brief research summaries with rationales for recommended practices

Today's mathematics classrooms increasingly include students for whom English is a second language. Teaching Mathematics to English Language Learners provides readers a comprehensive understanding of both the challenges that face English language learners (ELLs) and ways in which educators might address them in the secondary mathematics classroom. Framed by a research perspective, Teaching Mathematics to English Language Learners presents practical instructional strategies for engaging learners that can be incorporated as a regular part of instruction. The authors offer context-specific strategies for everything from facilitating classroom discussions with all students, to reading and interpreting math textbooks, to tackling word problems. A fully annotated list of math web and print resources completes the volume, making this a valuable reference to help mathematics teachers meet the challenges of including all learners in effective instruction. Features and updates to this new edition include: An updated and streamlined Part 1 provides an essential overview of ELL theory in a mathematics specific context. Additional practical examples of mathematics problems and exercises make turning theory into practice easy when teaching ELLs New pedagogical elements in Part 3 include tips on harnessing new technologies, discussion questions and reflection points. New coverage of the Common Core State Standards, as well as updates to the web and print resources in Part 4.