Teacher Discussion Forums

I am currently a student teacher in a fourth grade classroom. Altogether there are about 20 english learners in my classroom of various levels, but one is only a beginner. For most of the day, she attends other classrooms for English lessons and programs what work with Rosetta Stone. She does return to my classroom during math.

She is a fairly good student in math. When I model problems on the overhead, she is very willing to participate and tell me steps (such as for multiplication). I run into problems though with her when the class has to take tests that involve reading directions or doing word problems. She can only read and understand a minimal amount of English and these problems overwhelm her. I do not know any Spainish and there are certain terms that her neighbors cannot even help me translate to her.

I was hoping someone could provide some suggestions about working with beginning English Learners in Math (especially concerning word problems or reading directions).

1. Are there some ways I can better communicate the text to her?
2. Are there any key words for math in Spainish that may help?
3. Any other suggestions, hints, or stories?

You could look up the words needed for a story problem ahead of time, then have a translation in front of you during the test.