EDU 518: Teaching for Mathematics Comprehension

Overview

This course is designed for elementary and secondary classroom teachers as well as pre-service teachers who want to study and practice mathematics teaching strategies that support strong mathematics learning. Through readings, working with students in the classroom, and the analysis of student work samples, participants will enhance their knowledge about teaching strategies that contribute to higher student achievement in mathematics.

This course focuses on strategies that simultaneously assist students in the development of conceptual understandings and the acquisition of skills. Problem solving can frequently be approached in many ways and individual students can learn more by understanding divergent paths to problem solutions. There is also an emphasis on the importance of working with all learners to support every individual’s attainment of their full potential as mathematical thinkers through rich mathematical problems and engaging classroom environments.

It is necessary to identify a sponsor during the first week of the course. The participant will need to confer with their sponsor during week 1 concerning their course project.

Introduction

Mathematics has been categorized as one of those subjects that either you know it or you don’t. Some participants come to this class thinking that they cannot do math and are, therefore, leery of the entire course. Through the many activities you will work on throughout the course, it is our hope that if you are one of those students, you will feel differently by the end of the course.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply the three principles of learning defined by the National Research Council (2005) to mathematics learning and teaching.
• Describe the national and state or district mathematics standards, and demonstrate the ability to incorporate Colorado Model Content Standards for Mathematics into your instruction .
• Analyze and/or develop instructional and assessment materials that align with Colorado Model Content Standards for Mathematics and support the development of student understanding.
• Use formative assessment strategies to diagnose student needs and plan productive next steps.
• Create rich instructional experiences focused on mathematical problem solving related to at least one of the topics defined in national, state, and/or district mathematics standards and incorporating Colorado Model Content Standards for Mathematics.
• Build the capacity to balance meeting the individual needs of all students and supporting their attainment of challenging curriculum goals; learner- and learning- centered instruction.
• Increase student engagement by encouraging both oral and written mathematical communication between and among students and the teacher including the use of proper mathematical vocabulary and student questioning to promote the development of students’ understanding of mathematical concepts.
• Discuss resources available for incorporating technology into standards-based mathematics education

Course Requirements

One of the required textbook for this course, "How Students Learn: Mathematics in the Classroom" (ISBN: 0309089492) is available through the publisher as a free electronic copy or a PDF that can be purchased and downloaded. Please go to http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11101.html to access this textbook.

Required Texts
EDU 518 texts are available from the JIU/MBS bookstore