Supporting An Inclusive Math Environment

Math Congress allows for ALL learners to be successful.

Gifted Students

·       Sharing the answers from gifted students may scaffold the mathematical reasoning for other students in the class

·       As an accommodation, a parallel question which is similar could be provided if they are finished early 

English Language Learners (ELL)

·       Allows ELL to connect mathematical reasoning to vocabulary

·       Provides the option to explain their thinking with pictures, numbers and words

·       Hearing other students discuss their answers would be beneficial as they would become familiar with mathematical language

·       As an accommodation, the question could be written in pictures or a math picture dictionary could be used  

Students with Learning Disabilities (LD)

·       Students with LD may benefit from discussing the problem with their peers

·       As an accommodation, students could use technology or manipulatives to solve the problem, the teacher may also provide extra wait time for their answers

·       For students who have difficulty writing their answers, presenting their strategies would help them defend or justify their thinking 

Differentiated Instruction

·       Visual-Spatial: students may use pictures, patterns and manipulatives to communicate their thinking

·       Verbal-Linguistic: students may be selected to present their strategy to the rest of the class, they will also have to defend and justify their thinking

·       Logical-Mathematical: Math Congress is a framework for problem solving

·       Bodily-Kinesthetic: students will be able to move around the room with their groups and use manipulatives to solve the problem

·       Interpersonal: students will learn from the discussion with their peers and be able to ask and answer questions

·       Intrapersonal: during the Math Congress, students will reflect on their own strategies and thinking as they compare and contrast them to the ones presented

Accommodations
From EduGains Resources (Effective Questioning): Spy Walks

“If a student has been given plenty of ‘think time’ and is ‘stuck’, allow them to go on a tour of the classroom to see what their peers are doing. Rule: You may not touch and you may not talk. Students will only come back with what they are capable of understanding.”