A promising intervention designed to improve EAL learners’ mathematics skills and associated academic language

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of an intervention designed to support sixth-grade Spanish-speaking English as Additional Language (EAL) learners and their English proficient classmates in acquiring pre-algebra knowledge and skills and associated academic vocabulary. The sample consisted of 88 EAL learners and their 139 English proficient classmates who had failed a fifth-grade final math exam. Treatment materials and methods differed from those used in the control group by building students’ foundational math skills and academic language; using visual and linguistic supports; and capitalizing on student’s home language knowledge. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed modeling at the item level. Both EAL learners and English-proficient treatment students outperformed control students on measures of math and academic vocabulary.