To create a classroom learning community in which all students are engaged and inspired, a mathematics teacher's mastery of the content must be matched by an awareness of the needs of individual students and an understanding of the instructional strategies that will enable all learners to develop their mathematical knowledge and skills. Yet when…

Mathematics is considered the universal language, but students who speak languages other than English have difficulty doing mathematics in English. For instance, because of a lack of familiarity with the problem's context, many have trouble understanding exactly what operations to perform. In the United States, approximately one in seven students…

In this article, the author describes how he created an approach that he terms "Mathematics as a Second Language" (MSL) for teaching ELL students mathematics. The main components of MSL are vocabulary activities, journals, group work, and projects. He used MSL to teach prealgebra to ELL students, as well as to native English speakers, for two…

Discussed are the problems faced by mathematics students who have limited English proficiency. Suggestions for teaching these students in the context of mathematics are provided. Cooperative learning strategies are stressed. (CW)