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This powerful book reminds us of every student’s assets and cultures in the learning spaces. The intentionality of using specific language and content scaffolds and culturally sustaining practices is essential for drawing the brilliance of multilingual learners. Educators seeking practical approaches to support multilingual learners will find clear guidance for immediate implementation.
It is so exciting to see a book for MLL instruction in K–8th that focuses on math and science! Soto’s framework connects language and content with culturally responsive teaching. Vignettes, equity moves, and strategy descriptions provide a practical way to address math and science standards with guiding questions to engage teachers. Sample lessons highlight the aspects of the framework.
Soto, Sagun, and Beiersdorf speak to the critical need to build on student assets while engaging in authentic learning through cultural and responsive standards-based pedagogy. The equity moves come alive with specific student examples and the research base and scaffolds needed to engage in authentic learning so multilingual learners can thrive.
Delivering math and science instruction for multilingual learners will remain elusive without this how-to book. Successful STEAM or STREAM education hinges on reducing the language barrier to conceptual understanding for students who are linguistically different. This clearly written book provides a blueprint for changing the learning trajectory for multilingual learners with teaching strategies that are engaging, effective, and practical for today’s diverse classrooms.
Through the inclusion of research-based instructional strategies, concrete examples, and classroom vignettes, Soto, Sagun, and Beiersdorf demonstrate how a culturally responsive teaching lens can be naturally integrated into math and science lessons. Their equity moves are powerful action steps that educators can take to build on MLLs’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds while fostering both content and language learning.
Equity Moves to Support Multilingual Learners in Mathematics and Science, Grades K–8 is an important work that connects research to practice in meaningful and useful ways. It is a powerful tool for all teachers of multilingual students and should be required reading in teacher preparation programs. Congratulations to the authors for this outstanding work.