TPE 7: Teaching English Learners

Overview: This lesson is an introduction to division in third grade. It explores how students use it division their everyday lives. More specifically, students demonstrate the process of division by separating groups of cookies into smaller equal groups of using manipulatives. 

Justification for TPE 7: In order to make sure that I reach each student in my class during this lesson, my planning provides separate modifications for different students within my classroom, especially English Language Learners. For example, "The Doorbell Rang" comes in a Spanish version and also is available on tape. This is valuable for English Language Learners because it allows Spanish speakers to listen to the story in a language that is more familiar to them and in turn, give them a better chance of understanding the concept of division. Another modification made in this lesson for ELL students, is to pair them up with a stronger student during the guided practice and independent practice. This helps facilitate understanding because the ELL student can ask his partner questions about the cookies and division while working with the manipulatives. This allows students to work on their social language as well, encouraging them to communicate with proficient English speakers throughout the lesson.