Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Reflection on MELL Website

Math for English Language Learners http://www.tsusmell.org/index.htm


What is the purpose of the web resource?

The purpose of the website is to provide educators with instructional tools for teaching K-12 mathematics to English Language Learner students, all of which are based on comprehensive research. Materials and resources developed by MELL are free to all schools and universities in Texas. On the website you can find classroom lessons, classroom resources, a resource library, articles concerning ELLs and mathematics, and presentations conducted by MELL staff. 



Would you use it? Why or why not? What questions about teaching and learning math could it help you answer?

I would use this website because I’m positive that I’ll have ELLs in my future classrooms and this website provides research based information about effectively teaching ELL’s mathematics. I would use this website as a resources for strategies that address the specific learning needs of ELLs in math. This website provides the answers to the following questions: What conditions provide optimal growth for ELL students in mathematics? Where can I find culturally rich learning materials? How do I figure out an ELL student’s prior mathematics knowledge that he or she has brought to the classroom? How do I assess student learning?



Could it help you gain more knowledge about your teaching? If so, how?
This website could help me gain more knowledge about my teaching because I do not have much experience with teaching EEL students. I have conservational Spanish speaking skills, which could help me teach students if their native language is Spanish. However, this skill won’t do me much good if I have ELL students that speak languages other than Spanish. And I know that the probability of me having a student that speaks a language other than English or Spanish is highly likely because schools are becoming more and more culturally diverse.


What was the most interesting aspect of the resource?

I think the most interesting part about this resource is the video gallery. MELL’s video gallery includes numerous videos from MELL trainings and conferences. There are professional development videos and best practice instruction videos that are added regularly. MELL offers videos about ELL language strategies, dual language instruction, hands-on learning, and math camp instructional model. I watched several of these videos and found them informative, practical and useful.



Would you recommend the resource to someone else? Who and why?

Yes, I would recommend this resource because most likely all teachers will encounter a student in their classroom that doesn’t speak English. MELL not only provides information and resources online to help educators teach mathematics to ELL students, but it also offers conferences and training programs for educators to attend.

1 comment:

  1. What I like most about all of the research on ELL and learning strategies is that the strategy often apply to everyone and using them in class enhances all kids learning. It also reminds us that we are overly dependent on written and oral language for communication and that many other forms are available to us.

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