Communicating about mathematics is an essential component in learning mathematics and is a key standard for successful learning in a mathematics classroom using stories and storytelling as a catalyst to mathematics instruction. This, however, can make learning math for students with language deficiencies since they are working toward mastering both basic language proficiency as well as the specialized language needed for mathematics. This is a particular concern because the number of students of multicultural families is rapidly increasing. In this paper, we discuss the challenges and complexities of language-deficient students learning math in a classroom where communication is a key standard for successful learning, and suggest implications for teaching, by presenting an USA elementary teacher's scaffolding to make reading and solving word problems less intimidating for her language learner students as well as native speaking students.
In order to determine the message that is communicated to students about people who use math, this study analyzes contexts, human presence in particular, used in problems presented in a U. S. high school mathematics textbook. A framework was developed to analyze the human presence and was used to determine both the degree to which humans are present in the curriculum as well as characteristics of the present humans. One outcome of this study is the framework itself which can be used to analyze the human presence in any mathematics curriculum. Other outcomes include the determination that the particular mathematics textbook under study contains an overwhelming lack of humans, a surprising lack of named humans, and a disappointing presence of humans in math-related careers. These findings raise concerning questions about the message that is communicated to students about the usefulness of school mathematics and missing a valuable opportunity to inspire students to pursue degrees in mathematics. Additionally, it is hoped that these findings would inform the work of the Korean mathematics education communities on the textbook development.
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