CIMTE 361

Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School

Spring 2002

Dr. Richard Kitchen

Hokona Hall-Zuni room 252, 277-7753, kitchen@unm.edu

Web Site: www.unm.edu/~kitchen/index.html

Office hours: Wednesdays, 11:15-1:45 and by appointment

Class Meeting Dates, Times and Location: Saturday, January 26 — March 2; 12:30 — 3:00 and March 9, March 23, April 13, & April 27; 9:00 — 3:00, SSC B-20.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Math 111, Math 112, and Math 215.

Course Description: Strategies and materials appropriate for traditional and innovative instructional programs in elementary school mathematics. Supervised work with children allows for in-depth analysis of both content and process.

Required Texts: About Teaching Mathematics: A K-8 Resource, by Marilyn Burns, Math Solutions Publications, 1998. Class reader.

Course Goals:

  1. For prospective elementary school teachers to learn methods of teaching mathematics in K-8 classrooms. Special emphasis will be placed on preparing teachers to teach mathematics to American Indian children.

2. For prospective teachers to begin to reflect upon their beliefs about teaching, learning, and their expectations for students.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Students will demonstrate knowledge of mathematical content taught in K-8 classrooms.
  2. Students will exhibit effective planning of instruction in multiple formats.
  3. Students can utilize wide-range of instructional strategies needed to effectively teach mathematics to diverse learners in K-8 classrooms.
  4. Students will illustrate the ability to reflect on personal and peer practices in class discussions, assignments and projects.
  5. Students will develop, practice and demonstrate organizational skills necessary to meet the demands of teaching mathematics to diverse learners in K-8 classrooms.

Participation: There is no substitution for active participation. If you cannot attend class, call Dr. Kitchen at (505) 277-7753. Late work will result in a 10% grade deduction.

Umbrella Expectations: Students will be expected to abide by the cohort expectations.

Attendance and Tardy Policies: Students who miss more than one class meeting will earn a W in the course. Students with more than two tardies (more than 10 minutes late) will have their grade lowered one full letter grade (e.g., from a B to a C).

Grading: The standard grading scale is used to assign grades: A+: 100%; A: 99%-93%; A-: 92%-90%; B+: 89%-88%; B: 87%-83%; B-: 82%-80%; C+: 79%-78%; etc.

Special Needs: The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodations of their disabilities. If you have a disability requiring accommodation, please contact me immediately to make arrangements. For additional information, contact Student Support Services at 277-3506.

Class Assessment:

Student Assessment Project: You will complete a mathematics assessment of an individual child. Grades for late projects will be reduced 10% for each class meeting that the assignment is late. Due February 16th (20% of final grade)

Unit Plan: You will complete a three week unit in mathematics. Think of the unit as consisting of approximately 8-10 lessons that you could use during your student teaching experience. The unit plan should be cohesive, demonstrating how the lessons are interrelated and aligned with the New Mexico Curriculum Standards. The unit would be one of the approximately 9-12 units that comprise your Yearly Plan. You will need to provide an overview of how your Unit Plan fits into your Yearly Plan. You can work in pairs on the Unit Plan. Due March 2nd (20% of final grade)

Mid-term Examination: The mid-term examination is on March 9th. The examination will include mathematics problems and questions drawn from in-class activities. Students will be allowed to work collaboratively on part of the examination. (20% of the final grade)

Yearly Plan: You will design a plan for instruction of mathematics that includes the scope and sequence for your curriculum. The Yearly Plan is an outline of the mathematics curriculum for an entire year at a grade-level of your choice. This plan can be completed alone or in-groups of two. Due April 13th (30% of final grade)

Lesson Plan Presentation: Each student will be responsible for presenting one lesson plan from their Unit Plan. Grades will be assigned with the aid of holistic rubrics. Oral presentations of Lesson Plans will take place on April 27th. (10% of final grade)

Mission Statement: College of Education

The vision of the college of Education: Excellence and diversity through people, ideas, and innovation.

Our mission is the study & practice of education through teaching, research & service.

We address critical education issues;

test new ideas and approaches to teaching and learning; and

educate professionals who can

facilitate human growth and development in schools, homes, communities and workplaces;

prepare students for participation in

complex challenging society.

In carrying out our mission, we value

excellence in all that we do;

relationships of service, accountability, collaboration, and advocacy;

the discovery, discussion, and dissemination of ideas; and

innovation in teaching, technology, and leadership

Semester Schedule

* Bring pages assigned from Reader to the next class meeting. For example, bring pages 1-55 to class on February 2nd.

January 26:

In-Class: Discussion of course, syllabus, and class readings. Brief class discussion on effective mathematics instruction. Examine New Mexico Standards. View Marilyn Burns’ video, Attribute block activity, Shake and Spill activity.

HW: Readings provided during first class meeting. Reader*: 1-55. Burns: pages 1-23.

February 2:

In-Class: Continue discussion on effective mathematics instruction. Discuss Burns’ reading. View CGI videos. Discussion of children’s addition and subtraction strategies and role of informal assessment. Discuss Student Assessment Project.

HW: Reader: 56-70. Assigned Reading. Student Assessment Project (Due February 16).

February 9:

In-Class: Place of manipulatives and technology in mathematics classroom. Soma Cube Puzzle and Difference Activities. Race for a Flat.

HW: Reader: 71-95. Burns: pages 24-42. Complete Student Assessment Project.

February 16:

In-Class: Submit Student Assessment Project. Share findings from assessment project. Make connections between children’s strategies to solve subtraction/addition problems and division/multiplication problems. Discuss Unit Plan and Yearly Plan.

HW: Reader: 96-113. Assigned Reading. Burns: pages 125-172. Work on Unit Plan (Due March 2nd).

February 23:

In-Class: Discuss CGI multiplication and division problems. Mathematics with Manipulatives: Base Ten Blocks. Comparing and ordering decimals. Examine addition, subtraction, multiplication/division interpretations presented in reader.

HW: Reader: 114-162. Burns: pages 212-226. Work on Unit Plan.

 

March 2:

In-Class: Submit Unit Plan. Review CGI multiplication and division problems. Ratio and proportion problems. Study of fraction families, various representations of fractions and Cuisenaire rods. Lesson Plan presentation by instructor.

HW: Reader: 163-184. Burns: pages 212-226. Prepare for Mid-Term Examination.

March 9:

In-Class: Mid-Term Examination. Fraction Concepts and ratio. Estimation strategies. Cube covering activity.

HW: Assigned Reading. Reader: 185-225. Burns: pages 227-241

March 23:

In-Class: Discuss assigned reading. Review standards-based mathematics textbooks. Discuss role of worksheets in mathematics class. Three-dimensional stacks of cubes activity. Brainstorming session: Assessment strategies.

HW: Reader: 226-280. Burns: pages 45-99. Complete Yearly Plan.

April 13:

In-Class: Submit Yearly Plan. Geoboard and Pattern block activities. Area and perimeter problems. Assortment of geometry activities. Probability activities.

HW: Reader: 281-307. Burns: pages 183-211. Work on Lesson Plan presentation.

April 27:

In-Class: Measurement activities. Lesson Plan Presentations. Course evaluation.