To address the growing proficiency gap between multilingual learners (MLL) and their peers, the Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools emphasizes equitable access to high-quality math instruction, integrating both content knowledge and language development.
Eureka Math2® California instruction fosters math thinking while simultaneously promoting English language development through the integration of that development, language scaffolding and routines, and culturally and linguistically relevant content.
Language Development
Lesson-embedded routines support sense making, optimize output, cultivate conversations, and maximize meta-awareness.
Mathematical content, practices, and language development are interconnected. The curriculum uses a variety of tools to support students’ diverse language needs. Teachers leverage the following supports to customize a plan for multilingual learners. Lessons provide research-based embedded support for math-specific terms, multiple-meaning terms such as homophones and homographs, academic verbs, and everyday language. Support focuses on what students are expected to know and be able to do by the end of each lesson:
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Build or activate background knowledge to honor students’ assets and funds of knowledge
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Integrate all four domains of language: reading, writing, speaking, and listening
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Use multimodal methods, such as pairing terms with visuals, real items (realia), gestures, or acting out
Lessons invite students to engage with concepts through mathematical discussions and experiences, such as digital interactives, manipulatives, or math language routines, before they learn mathematically precise terminology for the concept. This engagement allows all learners, and especially multilingual learners, to attach new terms to lived experience.
Lessons contain functional language that students need to engage with the mathematics of the grade level. Each grade level explicitly teaches the meaning of a small list of targeted academic verbs, such as combine and approximate, as the verbs take on mathematical meaning.
Lessons use synonyms to preview and support meaning before students are expected to use the language.
Multilingual Learner Support
Consider using strategic, flexible grouping throughout the module.
- Pair students who have different levels of mathematical proficiency.
- Pair students who have different levels of English language proficiency.
As applicable, complement any of those groupings by pairing students who speak the same native language.
Multilingual Learner Support
Consider supporting students in the Always Sometimes Never routine by displaying an equation labeled with words from the statement.
Grade 3 Module 1 Math Language Routines
| Routine | Description | Lessons |
|---|---|---|
| Math Chat | Develops number sense, flexibility, efficiency, and accuracy as students solve a math task and discuss their different solution strategies. | Topic A Lesson 3 Topic E Lesson 19 |
| Share, Compare, Connect | Fosters students' meta-awareness as they identify, compare, and contrast different mathematical strategies, representations, concepts, and examples. | Topic A Lessons 1 and 5 Topic B Lesson 9 Topic E Lessons 22 and 23 |
| Take a Stand | Supports students in making and justifying arguments as well as critiquing the reasoning of others. | Topic B Lesson 9 |
| Which One Doesn’t Belong? | Promotes metacognition, reasoning, and mathematical discourse as students use precise language to compare different representations. | Topic C Lesson 10 |
| Think–Pair–Share | Supports mathematical discourse and maximizes linguistic output as students mentally rehearse their ideas and discuss with a partner before sharing with the class. | Most lessons in this module |
Language Routines
Math Language Routines are structured but adaptable formats for amplifying, assessing, and developing students’ language. They can be used flexibly whenever there are opportunities to support students with collaborative, interpretive, and productive language.
The following are sample routines in Eureka Math2 California:
- Share, Compare, Connect
- Math Chat
- Always Sometimes Never
- Which One Doesn’t Belong?
- Co-Construction
- Critique a Flawed Response
- Take a Stand
- Five Framing Questions
- Stronger, Clearer Each Time
- Numbered Heads
- Think–Pair–Share
Culturally Relevant
The Framework stresses that math instruction must be culturally and linguistically relevant to engage students fully. This Grade 2 Data Talk involves students comparing the heights of trees, a context that students can relate to their local environment, sparking interest and connection to the world around them.
These types of problems help students see how math connects to their world and makes learning more personal and meaningful. This approach helps bridge the gap between students’ home languages and cultures and the math content students are learning in class.
In Grade 2, Module 3, Lesson 11, students are tasked with partitioning a cake into three equal parts. This is a real problem that students may face at lunch or when sharing a meal with a sibling. This discussion activity encourages all students to participate, making sharing ideas feel safe.
Engaging Families and Communities
By involving families through activities such as family math nights or encouraging students to share what they’ve learned at home, we can build stronger connections between school and home. These efforts help students see math as relevant beyond the classroom.
In Eureka Math2 California, resources in the Apply book encourage family involvement. Components such as Family Math, Practice Partners, and Terminology support students in deepening their understanding of the concepts covered in the daily lesson and in making learning a collaborative process.