HelpMath | Boulder Learning inc.

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HELP Math

HELP Math is an engaging interactive multimedia mathematics intervention for grades 3 through 8, aligned to Common Core Math standards. It is designed to address teachers’ needs to provide individualized and adaptive instruction to English learners and other struggling students to improve their math achievement It embeds evidence-based instructional strategies and targeted accommodations into a comprehensive curriculum and customizable digital media library. It is the leading, research proven, online math intervention program in the U.S. that addresses the specific issues of teaching mathematics to English Language Learners (ELLs), students with special needs, and all students struggling to achieve math mastery.

HELP Math employs the research-based Sheltered Instruction pedagogy for teaching mathematics and other academic content that has been proven effective in a classroom setting, demonstrating remarkable success with both ELL and non-ELL students.

HELP Math is the first instructional program to successfully incorporate sheltered instruction practices into a comprehensive academic curriculum using technology.

HELP Math’s sheltered instruction is designed to improve students’ understanding of the content, while simultaneously developing their English language proficiency using specific techniques:

Increasing comprehensibility by scaffolding the learning, e.g. breaking down concepts into small, comprehensible “learning chunks”; synchronizing visuals, audio and interactivity to create a visual connection between words, symbols, and meaning.
Building background knowledge and prerequisite skills.
Targeting vocabulary development by emphasizing math content language as well as academic English; available to students as hyperlinked words within the instruction, and within an online dictionary of mathematical terms, including audio.
Providing bilingual support for custom curriculum and assessment. Teacher has the option of switching on/off.
Explicitly teaching problem-solving and test-taking skills, providing multiple opportunities for student responses and immediate corrective feedback when errors are made.

We have created a video demonstrating the power of sheltered instruction. You will experience what it feels like for a non-native speaker to learn math content in a second language. In this six minute video, Dr. Lynda Franco, expert in English language acquisition, takes you through a mathematics lesson. The first two minutes of instruction are provided solely in Spanish in a manner typifying teacher-led textbook practice. In the second part of the video, Dr. Franco delivers the same math lesson; however, this time, she uses sheltered instruction techniques to illuminate the content.

HELP Math is currently sold by two distributors:
Sunburst Digital and Southwest Education

HELP Math is closing the achievement gap

Sioux Falls School District has 1,800 ELL students that speak 50 different languages. With their diverse ELL population, they needed individualized student instruction in Math with an assessment component. They began using HELP Math as a supplemental tool in the classroom, as well as at home. As a result, students who spent the most time on HELP Math had the most gains.

“I have absolutely loved it! I have been able to put 5 students on HELP Math that had very little or no schooling. With the aid of a peer mentor, they were able to make great strides and eventually rejoined the rest of the group. I also had 2 students on it that were very ADVANCED and they were working on algebra and geometry. It saved me from having 6 – 8 classes that I would have to prep for in the same hour.” — Cheryl Bosma, Immersion, ELL & Regular Education Math Teacher, Sioux Falls, SD”

— Cheryl Bosma, Immersion, ELL & Regular Education Math Teacher, Sioux Falls, SD

HELP Math

HELP Math is closing the achievement gap

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