My students need two Chromebooks and an assortment of black and blue markers to create visual depictions of their math reasoning to build math skills using their strengths as visual learners.
Middle school can be tough. Socially, emotionally, and academically, there can be lots of challenges for students in the early teen years. My students are learning English and adapting to a new culture while navigating these difficult years, and this creates an extra layer of challenge.
My English language learner students are resilient, resourceful, and caring young teens.
Many of my students this year are recently arrived refugees from Africa and the Middle East. They tackle problems cheerfully and with gusto, but they also experience significant adjustment challenges. These students have been through a great deal beyond their control in their short lives, but they use multiple talents and strengths to overcome current obstacles.
My Project
It has been so rewarding to watch my students grow as learners and as people as we complete STEM projects and carry out online learning in class. My students learn so much more than just math. They learn how to support one another and teach. They learn to push past initial frustration to reach competence. Above all, they learn that they are capable students who can, with energy and determination, achieve the grade level math reasoning skills they will need to succeed in high school and beyond.
As English Language Learners, my students sometimes struggle to communicate their math thinking using words.
This is why we make regular use of marker boards to sketch and draw depictions of our reasoning. Combining math thinking with illustrations allows all students to question, clarify, explain and learn. We will use the black and blue markers to develop the ability to think mathematically and to explain our math thinking to others.
My students will use the two Chromebooks to access Khan Academy. Khan Academy allows students to work at their own pace following an individualized schedule. Combining this kind of online learning with visual support helps keep all of our students learning.
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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