Developing Conceptual Understanding

Why is conceptual understanding critical for Multilingual Learners?

• Multilingual Learners can develop deep, connected conceptual understanding alongside language.

• Multilingual Learners’ conceptual understanding supports their fluency with and thoughtful application of procedures.

• When offered meaningful choices, Multilingual Learners can engage in mathematical practices involving language.

Learn more: WestEd’s National Research and Development Center to Improve Education for Secondary English Learners has identified how equivalence is a cross-cutting concept across school mathematics and how to challenge and support Multilingual Learners to make deep connections with procedures, representations, contexts, and practices (Chu & Jackson, 2025). Such conceptual understanding is important because advances in technology will automate routine procedures but not assist students in understanding when and why certain mathematical procedures are necessary.

Resource: Realizing Multilingual Learners’ Immense Promise in Mathematics: Policies That Enable Ambitious Practice