Start Here: Teaching ELLs in Secondary Math
You're in the right place if...
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You see English Language Learners consistently struggling, and even failing, math classes, and you want to support them but aren’t sure where to start
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You believe all students deserve access to rigorous math content, not watered-down versions
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You notice students struggling not with the math itself, but with the vocabulary, wording, and academic language used to present it
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You’ve watched students explain their thinking verbally, but shut down when asked to read or write about math
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You want strategies that help students access the curriculum without lowering expectations
If this sounds like you,
I'm here to help!
Who are ELLs?
English Language Learners (ELLs), also called multilingual learners, are students who are still developing proficiency in academic English.
In math classrooms, ELLs might include:
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Newly arrived students learning English for the first time
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Long-term ELLs who speak English socially but struggle with academic language
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Bilingual students who understand concepts but need support expressing their thinking in English
ELLs are not less capable mathematicians.
They are often thinking deeply — they just don’t always have the language to show it yet.
Language development takes time, and math classrooms are full of dense vocabulary and
high-stakes assessments that can mask what students actually understand.
Common Challenges
ELLs Face
in Math Class
Many math struggles aren’t about the math at all; they’re about access.
Teachers often notice that ELLs:
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Can solve problems orally but struggle on assessments
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Get stuck on word problems because of unfamiliar vocabulary
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Know procedures but can’t explain their reasoning
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Freeze when questions require justification
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Perform worse on tests than daily classwork suggests
When language becomes a barrier, students may disengage, even when they’re capable of the math itself.
My Approach to Supporting ELLs in Math
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