Evaluation for 5.4a
Materials provide opportunities for students to develop academic mathematical language using visuals, manipulatives, or other language development strategies.
The MN+ Algebra I materials support the development of academic mathematical language through the use of visuals, such as input-output diagrams, tables, mappings, and graphs. In Coursework Student Edition, Unit 1, Lessons 1–2, students explore domain and range by working through input-rule-output diagrams, creating tables of values, and translating these into mappings and graphs. These visual representations help students connect vocabulary to mathematical relationships. In Unit 6, Lessons 1–2, students use graphs to define and interpret solutions to systems of equations, reinforcing academic language through visual models. In the Independent Skills Practice Book, students graph savings functions and interpret slope and intercepts in context, reinforcing terms like rate of change and initial value through real-world modeling. The materials give students opportunities to build academic mathematical language using manipulatives. For example, materials include card sort activities in Coursework Teacher Edition, Unit 15, Lesson 4, where students match equations, graphs, tables, and written descriptions of parent functions. This hands-on approach reinforces vocabulary like quadratic, cubic, absolute value, exponential, and square root. Similarly, in the Independent Skills Practice Book, students use algebra tiles in Unit 10, Lesson 4, to model factoring trinomials, supporting vocabulary development around expressions, factors, and area models. The materials incorporate language development strategies, such as structured collaborative activities, guided discussions, and error analysis, to promote academic mathematical language. For example, in Coursework Teacher Edition, Unit 13, Lesson 3, students engage in mathematical discourse by justifying their reasoning and using precise vocabulary to explain misconceptions. These strategies, along with consistent vocabulary integration and real-world contexts, help students internalize and apply academic language with clarity and confidence.