Synopses & Reviews
Taking a community of practice perspective that highlights the learner as part of acommunity, rather than a lone individual responsible for her/his learning, thisethnographically-influenced study investigates how Latina/o English LanguageLearners (ELLs) in middle school mathematics classes negotiated their learningof mathematics and mathematical discourse. The classes in which the Latina/ostudents were enrolled used a reform-oriented approach to math learning; themath in these classes was-to varying degrees-taught using a hands-on, discovery approach to learning where group learning was valued, and discussionsin and about math were critical.This book presents the stories of how six immigrant and American-born ELLs worked with their three teachersof varied ethnicity, education, experience with second language learners, and training in reform-orientedmathematics curricula to gain a degree of competence in the mathematical discourse they used in class. Identity, participation, situated learning, discourse use by learners of English as a Second Language (ESL), framing inlanguage, and student success in mathematics are all critical notions that arehighlighted within this school-based research.