Essay - Proposal for Research Study the Effects of Mathematics Instruction in...

Proposal for research study

The Effects of Mathematics Instruction in English on ELL Second Grade Students

J. Elizabeth Estevez

Educ2205I-Content Research Sem*****ar

INTRODUCTION

***** is a powerful tool for interpreting the world. Rese*****rch has shown that for children to learn how to use mathematics ***** organize, understand, compare, and interpret their experiences, mathematics must be connected to their lives. Such connections help students to make sense of mathematics and view it as relevant. There *****, however, been controversy with regard to ***** from non-English backgrounds and the best ways to get them to make those connections. Questions are raised regarding how to instruct these children who are referred to ***** English language learners (ELL's). Should they initially be taught in ***** native language with gradual exposure to English ***** language classes, or should they be immersed in English as early as possible. Based upon ideas presented in research studies and my own ideas as a former bilingual teacher, I decided it important enough to investigate whether ma*****atics instruction in English is truly effective in the second grade bil*****gual classroom, ***** if so, ***** what extent. Although no single piece of ***** validates the claim ***** any "***** way" to teach mathematics to ELL students, collectively it can be determined instruction in English during the ***** stages of language development may ***** beneficial.

The purpose of the research study will be ***** examine the effectiveness of ***** ***** of mathematics on second grade ELL students as compared to the ***** of instruction in their ***** language. The results ***** the ***** should help educators and adm*****istrators ***** an informed decision as to which approach is most effective ***** appropriate for ***** ***** at their current levels.

SETTING

P.S. 189 ***** loc*****ed at 2580 Amsterdam Avenue, at 189th street. The school forms part of Commun*****y Board District 6, located in the Washington Heights section ***** Manhattan, and it provides services for neighborhood children from ***** levels Pre-K through Five. The neighborhood surrounding the school is a very pe*****ceful one. *****re are very few disruptions during school hours that are from 8:20a.m. to 2:45p.m. PS 189 has a student population of 1,480 and ninety seven percent ***** this population is made of Hispanic children of which 38.5% are English Language Learners. The remaining three percent is made up of different nationalities that include African Americans, and other racial and ethnic backgrounds. The ***** reflects a high concentr*****tion ***** poverty, educational need, ***** overcrowded conditions. The school has a staff of 94 teachers, 27 paraprofessionals, 3 family workers, 23 school aides, and an***** 8 professionals that include administrators. ***** teachers responsible for the children's learning have different backgrounds the majority of which are *****. Other backgrounds include White Americans, African Americans, ***** Asians.

***** school built a new annex, to expand the old building. This was necessary in order ***** accommodate ***** overcrowded conditions due to the large num*****r of students ***** the community. It ***** opened in 1999 for kindergarten and first graders.