Syllabus (Tentative)

Syllabus (Tentative) ELED 6550 Teaching Mathematics Spring, 2013

Instructor Information:

Dr. J. Jeremy Winters Associate Professor Office: COE 341 Box 69 Office Phone: 494-7729 Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro TN 37132

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.mtsu.edu/~jwinters

Spring Schedule and Office Hours:

Class Meeting Times Office Hours Monday N/A by appointment Tuesday 8:00-11:05 11:15-1:15 Wednesday N/A 10:00-2:00 Thursday 8:00-11:05, 4:30-7:30 11:15-4:15 Friday N/A by appointment

I will not be in my office on February 20, March 6, and April 10. If you come to my office during office hours and I am not there, ask others if they have seen me. I may be in the main office, a colleague’s office, or the bathroom.

Course Prerequisites:

Admission to graduate school

Course Description (as published in the undergraduate catalog)

ELED 6550 is an orientation to the teaching strategies and materials appropriate for teaching mathematics in grades K-6. Emphasis is placed on using a constructivist approach. Course Goals

1. To increase theoretical and experiential knowledge about the teaching of mathematics. 2. To increase content as well as pedagogical knowledge of mathematics. 3. To learn about young children’s mathematical thinking. 4. To develop a repertoire of mathematical tasks and activities. 5. To reflect on beliefs and experiences about how to teach mathematics. 6. To plan, present, and reflect on the teaching of mathematics. 7. To assess students current mathematical knowledge and devise a plan for helping students reach desired goals. 8. To become familiar with state and national mathematical standards.

Course Topics

1. Mathematical Practices 2. Instructional Models for Teaching Mathematics 3. Number and Operations 4. Algebra 5. Geometry and Measurement 6. Data Analysis, Probability, and Statistics 7. Analyzing Student’s Mathematical Thinking 8. Resources for Teaching Mathematics

Course Texts & Needed Websites:

Required:

Course Pacekt of Handouts in Bookstore.

Other Resources (not required to purchase):

ETA/Cuisenaire Manipulative Bags. These are available in the bookstore or you may order it from ETA. ETA: 1-800-445-5985.

Sherman, H., Richardson, L., & Yard, G. (2005) Teaching students who struggle with mathematics. Pearson, Merrill Prentice Hall.

Chappell, M, Schielack, J., & Zagorski, S. (2004) Empowering the beginning teacher of mathematics: Elementary school. NCTM, Reston, VA.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2000). Principles and Standards for School mathematics. Reston, VA. http://www.nctm.org

Tennessee Curriculum Standards: http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/standards/ Common Core State Standards http://www.corestandards.org/ Expectations from Students

As a graduate student, your work and attitude should be exemplary. Students are expected to attend ALL classes on time. Students should come prepared for each class having completed all assignments prior to the beginning of class. Please TURN CELL PHONES to vibrate before entering the classroom. Make sure your class conduct is courteous to those around you. Professional dress and conduct are expected when observing, tutoring, and teaching. Reports of inappropriate dress or conduct from the local schools will result in the lowering of one’s grade or a grade of F for the course.

Absentee Policy

Attendance in class is critical to a student’s learning. This course draws upon experiences of every student and participation in class activities. Thus, missing class will cause gaps in a student’s knowledge of mathematical methods.

Policy o Two (2) absences will result in the lowering of one’s grade by one letter grade. o Three (3) absences will result in an F for the course.

Excessive tardies or extreme late arrivals or early departures will result in the lowering of a grade by a level (plus/minus).

Missed Work

If a student misses a quiz, it must be made up prior to returning to class.

Course Assignments

Course Content Quizzes

Quizzes will be given over content covered in class up to that point. The top five quiz grades will be used to calculate the points earned in this category. If students miss a quiz, they must come by the instrucor’s office prior to the next class meeting to make up the quiz.

Article Reflections

Students will be asked to read and react to several different articles throughout the semester. Reflection papers must be between 250-275 words (typed, 12pt Arial double-spaced in MS Word) that presents a personal reaction to the reading (not a summary).

Curriculum Sort

See instructor’s website for assignment details. Investigating the Mathematical Thinking of Children

Each MTSU student is to work with a child in his or her license gradeband in mathematics for 5 hours. Students will need to document each experience (the form will be given by the instructor). This time may be spent in remediation, reinforcement, or extension. Problems should be given so that you can see how the student is thinking mathematically. You should be prepated to work with the child the entire time.

Family Math Night

Each student will construct a mathematical activity that can be used as a booth for a math fair. These booths will be something that can be changed into a math center when teaching. The booth needs to be designed around a mathematical standard. Students will be assigned a Common Core Math Standard. The math standard must be on the back of the presentation board. All items on the presentation board must be typed or dye-cut. The booths will then be used in a Math Fair or Math Night where you are responsible for presenting your booth. Students will participate in 2 or the 3 Math Nights. - McFadden School of Excellence – February 28th - setup at 4:40 – ends 6:30 - Discovery School at Reeves Rogers – April 9 - TBA - Lascassas Elementary School – March 18 - TBA

Professional Development Experience

Students must attend a professional development experience this semester with a focus on mathematics. The students may attend either the Integrated Curriculum Conference on January 26th or the MTMT Local Conference in Brentwood on February 1-2. Documentation of attendance at the event is required. Appropriate documentation would be a program with a signature from a speaker(s) or conference certificate.

Mathematical Teaching Experience

Students will teach two math lessons. The instructor will place the students in classrooms to teach.

Portfolio

The portfolio cover sheet with items to be included is available on my website.

Final Exam

Students will be given a culminating test over mathematical content and pedagogy.

Breakdown of Evaluations

Assignment Points Course Content Quizzes 15 Article Reflections 15 Curriculum Sort 15 IMTC 25 Family Math Night 20 PD Experience 15 MTE 20 Portfolio 15 Final Exam 10

Total 150

*** All assignments must be completed. If a student has a 0 for any assignment, the student’s grade will be lowered one letter grade.

Evaluation & Grading

A 89.95-100 C 69-95-79.94 B 79.95-89.94 F below 69.94

All grades will be rounded to the hundredths place. A plus-minus system will be used when calculating grades where absences and tardies are taken into account.

Important Dates

Spring Break March 11-17 Last Day of Classes May 1 Study Day May 2

Calendar of Due Dates

Article Reflection 1 Wednesday, January 30th in D2L by noon Article Reflection 2 Wednesday, February 20h in D2L by noon Article Reflection 3 Wednesday, March 20th in D2L by noon Article Reflection 4 Wednesday, April 10th in D2L by noon Article Reflection 5 Wednesday, May 1st in D2L by noon Curriculum Sort Thursday, March 21st in Class IMTC Thursday, April 26th on TK20 MTE one week after 2nd teaching experience on TK20 Portfolio Thursday, April 26th in class

Final Exam Date Thursday, May 9th – 6:00 – 8:00 pm MTSU Statement on Students with Disabilities (Standard)

Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: ADA accommodation requests (temporary or permanent) are determined only by Disabled Students Services. Students are responsible for contacting the Disabled Students Services Office at 615-898-2783 to obtain ADA accommodations and for providing the instructor with the accommodation letter from Disabled Student Services.

Diversity Statement As identified and described in the College of Education's conceptual framework Educator as Refl ective Decision-maker, ELED 6550 is constructed within an understanding of diversity. Teachin g Mathematics ensures candidates a variety of appropriate assessment alternatives and uses techn ology as instruction and as a median of instruction. Using the TK20 software, the Comprehensiv e Assessment System (CAS) clearly aligns content and pedagogical knowledge with programmat ic objectives, professional goals, and accreditation standards. Faculty draw upon multiple data s ources on which to analyze, interpret, and improve their teaching practice on behalf of candidate s' knowledge, skills, and dispositions.

Academic Integrity: According to the Rights and Responsibility section of the Students Handbook, cheating is defined as intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours. If a student is believed to be in violation of MTSU’s policy on academic misconduct, procedures will be following as outlined in the Students Handbook.

Academic Misconduct: The instructor has the primary responsibility for control over the classroom behavior and can direct the temporary removal or exclusion from the classroom of any student engaged in disruptive conduct or conduct which otherwise violates the general rules and regulations of the institution. The instructor may report such misconduct to the assistant dean for Judicial Affairs for implementation of such disciplinary sanctions as may be appropriate, including extended or permanent exclusion from the classroom.