ABSTRACT
Part 4 has examined issues related to collaborations to enhance the learning of students, including collaborations among teachers, both mathematics and English as Second Language (ESL) specialists, as well as with parents. The following questions provide opportunities to relate these issues to your own teaching situation.
Reflect back on your educational background, particularly your post-secondary education. Are you aware of individuals, including yourself, who were taught by instructors who were non-native English speakers? What challenges with language comprehension did some students experience? What strategies, if any, did the instructors use to ensure that they were understood by students? What strategies would have been helpful to ensure that they were understood by students?
Reflect on a time in which you were involved in a collaborative project, educational or not, with someone else. What were the benefits of the collaborations? What challenges did you experience during the collaboration? What lessons did you learn and what advice would you give others who decide to get involved in collaborations with others?
One strategy mentioned in Part 3 was preparing a homework guide for a unit level so that ELLs could plan ahead. How might you add to such a guide to send some ideas to parents about helping their child with this homework? Modify your plans to consider issues if parents have limited English fluency.
