Math Language Routines with Coteach

Today's blog wraps our three-part series on using Coteach to support multilingual learners (MLLs) in your math classroom. We've covered creating content-aligned language objectives and transforming them into practical classroom supports. Now we'll explore how Coteach can enhance Math Language Routines (MLRs) within your lessons.

What are Math Language Routines?

Math Language Routines are protocols designed to foster student participation while building math academic language, practices, and content understanding. Developed by Stanford University's Understanding Language research center, MLRs create structured opportunities for students to engage in meaningful mathematical dialogue—especially crucial for multilingual learners who need supportive environments to practice mathematical discourse.

What makes MLRs so effective is their focus on creating low-stakes conversation spaces where students can test ideas before sharing with larger groups. IM embeds MLRs strategically throughout lessons, but you can use Coteach both to enhance existing MLRs and to spot additional opportunities to use them.

Enhancing MLR Implementation with Coteach

Let’s focus on one powerful routine to get started: Three Reads. This MLR helps students comprehend complex word problems through multiple, focused readings—and supports building both language and content understanding.

Coteach can help you implement this routine in your specific lesson.

• Differentiated sentence frames: “Create sentence starters for the three reads routine that support students at entering, emerging, and developing language proficiency levels for this activity 2.”

• Add visual organization: “Design a graphic organiser that helps students track the different types of information they’re gathering during each read.”

• Ensure cultural responsiveness: “Identify and provide background knowledge supports for cultural references or contexts in this problem that might be unfamiliar to multilingual learners.”

Identifying New Opportunities for MLRs with Coteach

Sometimes an IM lesson won’t include a recommended MLR—but you know your students would benefit from one. Coteach can help you scan the lesson for language and discourse demands, then suggest routines that match the learning goals.

Try prompts like:

• “Review this lesson and identify activities where a Math Language Routine could help students access the content.”

  “Suggest which MLR would best support students struggling with [specific concept] in this lesson.”

  “Recommend ways to adapt [chosen MLR] for this activity while keeping the mathematical challenge intact.”

Get Started Now

MLRs give all students—especially multilingual learners—purposeful, low-stakes opportunities to share and refine their thinking.

Head to Coteach now and start exploring how Math Language Routines can improve participation and learning in your classroom.