Fostering Mathematical Inquiry with Language Independent Board Games
Keywords:
English language learners, ELLs, Language-independent math gamesAbstract
The authors discuss an approach for engaging students in mathematical problem solving and argumentation in a manner that supports all learners, including those for whom English is a non-native language (i.e., ELLs). Building on the work of Norval and Castaneda (2020), Wanko (2017), and others, the authors engage students in a language-independent game, Where are the Cherries?. English-speaking students learn the rules of the game as they analyze an instructional video in Chinese. Students strengthen their problem solving skills as they develop a greater appreciation of the language challenges that ELL classmates face on a daily basis.
References
Gong X., & Gao H. (2018). Supporting English language learners in the mathematics classroom in the United States. Journal of Mathematics Education. 11(2),48–67
McFeetors, P. J. & Palfy, K. (2017). We’re in Math Class Playing Games, Not Playing Games in Math Class. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 22(9), 534–544.
National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). (2010). Common core state standards for mathematics. Washington, DC: Author.
Noddings, N. (1984). Caring, a feminine approach to ethics and moral education. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Norval, B. (2019a). ELL Corner: Can we change mathematics test items to be more equitable to ELLs? (Part 1 of 3). Ohio Journal of School Mathematics 82, 29–35.
Norval, B. (2019b). ELL Corner: How to Modify Test Items for ELLs: What Research Says (Part 2 of 3). Ohio Journal of School Mathematics 83, 16–24.
Norval, B. & Castaneda, M. (2020). ELL Corner: Linguistic Modifications in Action (Part 3 of 3). Ohio Journal of School Mathematics 84, 1–18.
Wanko, J. (2017). Teaching Inductive Reasoning with Puzzles. Mathematics Teacher, 110(7), 514–519. doi:10.5951/mathteacher.110.7.0514
Wells C. (2003). A handbook of mathematical discourse. Case Western Reserve University.
Yoon, B. (2008). Uninvited Guests: The Influence of Teachers’ Roles and Pedagogies on the Positioning of English Language Learners in the Regular Classroom. American Educational Research Journal, 45(2), 495–52
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Michael Todd Edwards, Zheng Yang, Jingyi Zeng