Teaching Culturally and

linguistically diverse students

Teachers must support The Aspects of

and value their culturally
Culturally Responsive
diverse students by being
responsive to the
instruction.
student’s backgrounds,
traditions and knowledge. Communicate high
expectations focuses on the
Connect students’ big idea of mathematics.
experiences at home with Uses tasks such as
the mathematics in the groupwork and incorporates Mathematics is not a
classroom. By learning students’ ideas and universal language. The
about their traditions, it presentations. conceptual knowledge of
helps plan the lesson plans math is universal. The
for these students. Make content relevant by
procedures of how to
making sure it is presented
in meaningful way and that solve not universal. The
Provide accommodations process to solve
it I connected to other
for students by extending depends on the country.
content. Using cultural
time, repeating questions
content makes it relevant
and shortening As a teacher you should
for the students and helps
assessments. them understand support a range of
different culture
Attend to student’s approaches when
mathematical identities by solving problems.
listening to students during
group work and attributing
ideas to the students. Teaching tip
Ask students
Ensure shared power by
to think a lot
encouraging students to
when
make mathematical
solving
contributions and validate
their reasoning.
Teaching strategies that support Honor use
culturally diverse students of native
language!
Focus of academic vocabulary. Academic
language is harder to learn because it is
not used every day. Using the language
can help the students develop and evolve
the language over time.
Use visuals, self-made dictionaries and
foldables to help with vocabulary.

Build background knowledge by using

visuals to help students understand the
tasks and make connections. Devote
additional time to building background
because it will keep the students engaged.
Use modifications by limiting the use of
confusing vocabulary.

Plan cooperative and interdependent

groups
Have ELL in groups that will benefit them
and help with their language
development.

Have tasks with multiple strategies

and ways to solve for ELL. The
student will find a solution that
makes sense for them and that they
can explain.