Multilingual Learners

The overarching goal for this session is for presenters to receive feedback on how they might increase participant implementation of the classroom materials developed in their project. Their biggest challenge is to support deeper implementation of these materials in project classrooms despite current policy contexts in project schools. Teachers regularly say they like the materials, find them valuable, and understand their purposes.

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics and the forthcoming Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have taken shape during a period of rapidly changing student demographics and continuing science achievement gaps which emphasize issues related to English language learners. In addition to the focus on disciplinary core ideas, the new standards emphasize “practices”— mathematical practices and scientific and engineering practices—which are language intensive.

The purpose of this session is to share information about three of the projects involved in the CADRE working group for English language learners (ELLs) and STEM. The first project, Project MSSELL (Middle School Science for English Language Learners), will report on a two-year randomized-trial  longitudinal study and the effectiveness of instructional interventions in academic science among ELLs and non-ELLs matriculating through grades 5 and 6 with comparison to the typical science instruction in an urban school district in Southeast Texas.

This group met first at the 2009 PI meeting, and this session is the continuation of the group interactions. However, the session is open to others who are interested in participating. The session will begin with a presentation of the ELL synthesis study conducted by CADRE partner, Abt Associates. The study involves an in-depth analysis of the DRK-12 portfolio on ELL students in math and science education and a comprehensive review of the literature. This information will serve as the foundation for a discussion to be facilitated by Okhee Lee.