Running head: EFFECTIVE ELL MATH STRATEGIES 1

Effective ELL Math Strategies for Solving Word Problems

Cara Botz

Seattle Pacific University

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EFFECTIVE ELL MATH STRATEGIES 2

I. Purpose of the Study and Objectives

A. State the topic and purpose of your study in one sentence.

The purpose of this study is to compare the achievement of two groups of third grade ELL students when the educator is using either an accommodation method or graphic organizer tool for solving math word problems.

B. State your purpose in the form of a hypothesis.

ELL students who receive instruction using a graphic organizer to help consolidate information with math word problems will show greater achievement on an assessment than those students who are simply read aloud the math word problem as an accommodation.

C. Explain how your study will contribute to knowledge about education.

This study will help educators who work with elementary age ELL students and will provide useful information about the un-effective use of accommodations versus an effective instructional strategy and intervention tool such as the use of a graphic organizer.

II. How your study relates to previous research

A. What one study is your study most directly based on? (give citation)

This study was most directly based on:

DiGisi, L & Fleming, D. (2005). Literacy specialists in math class! Closing the

achievement gap on state math assessments. Voices From the Middle,

13, 48-52.

B. How does your study build on previous research? (No more than 4 sentences)

Previous studies and research has focused on the linguistic complexity of math word problems on state tests. Previous research has also done in-depth study using differential item functioning techniques between subgroups as well as ELL and non-ELL students. This study builds on previous research by suggesting the use of effective ELL instructional strategies such as: vocabulary knowledge, breaking sentences and questions down, use of a graphic organizer, using words, pictures and numbers to help solve problem and identifying the question. I will be attempting to show the achievement that ELL students have with these instructional strategies in solving math word problems, as opposed to an accommodation method.

C. If possible give the names of specific scholars, constructs, or theories upon which your work is based.

Arthur Hyde is the author of "Comprehending Math: Adapting Reading Strategies to Teach Mathematics, K-6", this book discusses the use of effective reading strategies and adapting them towards math instruction. He uses concepts that teachers have mastered through

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EFFECTIVE ELL MATH STRATEGIES 3

literacy trainings and geared them towards mathematical concepts, such as reading comprehension strategies for math word problems.

III. Literature Search

Using APA format, list the research articles, chapters, books and other sources that would be used in the literature review.

DiGisi, L & Fleming, D. (2005). Literacy specialists in math class! Closing the

achievement gap on state math assessments. Voices From the Middle,

13, 48-52.

Hyde, A. (2006). Comprehending math: adapting reading strategies to teach

mathematics, K-6. Portsmouth, NH: Arthur Hyde.

Lipton, M & Oakes, J. (2003). Teaching to change the world (2nd ed.). New York, NY:

McGraw-Hill.

Martineillo, M. (2008). Language and the performance of english-language learners in

math word problems. Harvard Educational Review, 78, 333-368.

Nieto, S. (2004). Affirming diversity: The sociopolitical context of multicultural

education (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

IV. Sampling

A. What is the population you will study? The population that will be studied is third grade ELL students that have English Acquisition levels between early production and intermediate fluency in the Vancouver Public Schools district. B. Describe the characteristics of the population that you will study. The ELL population that I will study is comprised of third graders the Vancouver Public School district. This population has 48.8% on free or reduced lunch. The ethnic

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EFFECTIVE ELL MATH STRATEGIES 4

characteristics of the population is 71.1% are Caucasian, 13.7% are Hispanic, 6.0% Asian/Pacific Island, 5.3 % African American and 3.9% are of another ethnicity. C. Identify your sampling procedure (e.g., simple random sampling), and explain why

you selected it. I will be using quota sampling as my sampling procedure because it will allow me to choose subjects as representatives of different ELL language acquisition levels, these will act as my subgroups within the population. D. Indicate the sampling unit (e.g., individual students, classes of students, schools). The sampling unit will be individual students. E. Indicate the size of your sample, and explain why that sample size is sufficient. The size of my sample will be 20 subjects per subgroup, there are three subgroups of English language acquisition levels and 10 Elementary schools within the district will participate in the study. That means there will be a total of 600 students in my study, this will be sufficient because it is a large enough sample size to adhere to any problems or outside variants that may cause error in the study. F. Indicate whether the sample will be formed into subgroups, and if so, describe the

characteristics of the subgroups. The sample will be placed into two groups, one group receiving the accommodation and the other group receiving instruction on how to use a graphic organizer. Within those two groups the same will be placed into subgroups based on their language acquisition level, 10 subjects within a subgroup will be placed into group that will only receive accommodations on for solving math word problem, i.e. having the problem read aloud to them. The other 10 subjects will be placed in a group that is taught to use a graphic organizer that will help break down a math word problem. For example, students with a language acquisition level of speech emergent, 10 speech emergent students will be placed into a subgroup only receiving accommodations and the rest of the 10 speech emergent students will be placed into a subgroup that is taught to use a KWC chart. G. What risks, if any, does your study pose for your research participants? What steps

will you take to minimize these risks? All students participating in this study will have a method of intervention for solving math word problems. Students within the subgroups that will have accommodations will have a fluent reader reading the word problem aloud to them which is a form of intervention for ELL and IEP students. Students within the subgroup that will be taught how to use a graphic organizer will be taught how to use a tool that may or may not be used for future assessments.

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EFFECTIVE ELL MATH STRATEGIES 5

V. Variables

A. Specify the dependent variable(s) in your study. The dependent variable in my study will be student achievement on math word problems. B. Specify the independent variable(s) in your study. The independent variables in my study will be the type of math instructional intervention utilized. C. What other variables, if any, will be considered in your study? Other variables that may be considered in my study is: previous strategies that the ELL students were taught prior to third grade, the amount of English spoken in the home of the students and whether students receive assistance or help from a parent or older sibling at home that understands math vocabulary in English on homework.

VI. Instruments / Measures

A. List the measures that you will select or develop for your study. I will be using a standards-based assessment known within the Vancouver School District as the MBA (Math Benchmark Assessment). This assessment enables teachers to evaluate student learning on a specific set of math standards as well as identify student misconceptions and strengths. The portion of the test that I will be using will focus on the standard of problem solving and communication. B. Indicate how your measures will assess each variable in the study. The MBA will measure students achievement on math word problems. C. For each measure, indicate which types of validity and reliability are relevant, and

how you will check them. The MBA is a standards-based assessment with content validity based on the Washington state standards for third graders.

VII. Research Design

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EFFECTIVE ELL MATH STRATEGIES 6

A. Describe the research design that you will use for your study (e.g., descriptive, correlational, comparative, causal comparative, experimental, quasi-experimental).

For my study I will be using the research design of casual comparative because I am comparing two groups of students. I will be comparing the use of an intervention with one gro