Instructional Methods for Teaching Math

Syllabus

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COURSE OVERVIEW

This course prepares teachers with instructional procedures and content effective in teaching mathematics to all students, but focuses on instructional approaches effective for students who are at risk for academic failure.

GOALS

In this class, you will learn how to:


CLASS AND READING SCHEDULE

Readings are due on the date listed unless otherwise specified. I reserve the right to change the course calendar at any time, including topics covered, reading assignments, and due dates for assignments. I will give you as much notice as possible for such changes.

Date

Topic

Assignment Out

Assignment Due

Required Readings

Week 1

3/31

Introduction to Math Methods

 

 

Stein (CH 1, 2 & 3)*

Week 2 4/7

Number Sense: Vocabulary & Language Skills, Counting, Symbol ID, Place Value

Curriculum Evaluation (CE) presentations †

 

Stein (CH 4 & 5)*

Week 3 4/14

Whole Number Operations: Addition/Subtraction & Multiplication/Division

 

CE1

Stein (CH 7, 8, 9, & 10)*

Week 4

4/21

Assessment and Planning

Assessment & Planning Project

CE2

Online CAST materials

Week 5 4/28

Proportional Reasoning: Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, and Ratios

 

CE3

Stein (CH 12, 13, & 14)*

Week 6

5/5

Problem Solving

 

CE4

Stein (CH 11)*

Week 7 5/12

Automaticity: Fact Acquisition

 

CE5; Draft of Part 1 of A&P project

Stein (CH 6)*; Online math facts

Week 8 5/19

Money, Measurement, Study Skills

 

CE6

Stein (CH 16, 17, & 18)*

Week 9 5/26

Memorial Day-no class

 

 

 

Week 10

6/2

Geometry, Pre Algebra

 

CE7; Assessment & Planning Project (due 6/6/; 5:00 pm)

Stein (Ch 19, 20)*

Week 11

6/9

Finals Week- no class

 

 

 

*Application exercises are due for these chapters at the following week’s class.

†Due throughout the class

Assignments & GRADING PROCEDURES

I will assess your performance on course objectives through the following activities/assignments. All assignments will be posted to the course website at the point in the class when you are prepared to complete them and will include detailed specification of the requirements and grading criteria. Assignments should be completed individually unless otherwise specified. I will grade as objectively as possible. In the case of qualitative assessment, evaluation will be based on my professional judgment.

Assignments Points % of Total

8 application exercises @ 5 pts each: 40 point total; 19% of total grade

Curriculum Evaluation: 50 points total; 23% of total grade

Assessment & Planning Project: 100 47% of total grade

Participation & Attendance: 24 points total; 11% of total grade

----------------------------------------------

TOTAL POINTS=214

I will assign grades on the basis of a non-competitive percentage scale, which will be translated to the UW numeric scale using the following UW grade schedule.

LETTER

%

UW NUMERIC

A

97- 100

4.0

 

94-96

3.9

A-

93

3.8

 

92

3.7

 

91

3.6

 

90

3.5

B+

89

3.4

 

88

3.3

 

87

3.2

B

86

3.1

 

85

3.0

 

84

2.9

 

83

2.8

 

82

2.7

 

81

2.6

 

80

2.5

C+

79

2.4

 

78

2.3

 

77

2.2

 

76

2.1

 

75

2.0

 

74

1.9

C-

73

1.8

 

72

1.7

 

71

1.6

 

70

1.5

D+

69

1.4

 

68

1.3

 

67

1. 2

D

66

1.1

 

65

1.0

 

64

.9

D-

63-62

-8

 

61-60

.7

E

59-0

0

 

 

 

I would encourage you to try to avoid incomplete or “I” grades. I will assign this grade in cases of emergencies and where a passing grade may be earned. However, you should notify me at the time such circumstances exist. Upon notification, we will develop a course completion contract before the last week of the quarter outlining completion deadlines.

READINGS

The following text is required and can be purchased at the University of Washington Bookstore.

Stein, M., Kinder, D., Silbert, J., & Carnine, D. (2006). Designing effective mathematics instruction (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

Additional articles and resources will be required and will be posted on the class website including:

Contesting Grades

Occasionally, I will make errors in grading. If you disagree with a grade and want to contest it, please do so. In contesting a grade, I request that you follow these procedures:

Participation

The content presented in this class is essential to your knowledge base as a competent and effective teacher. Careful preparation for, and participation during, class is critical. Participation points are the basis for a portion of your grade. You are responsible for (a) studying the content covered in class lectures, handouts, and discussions and activities, and (b) satisfying criteria for in-class assignments by engaging in discussions, relating content to discussions from previous classes or readings, and applying course information to problems. You are also encouraged to prepare and present questions when information is unclear.

Outside-of-Class Participation

Much of our work in-class will be to prepare you to learn outside of class. Since we have only 30 hours of contact time, your effort after class will be particularly important. In general, the university assumes that students will spend three hours outside of class for every credit hour they take. Thus, for a 3-credit class you should expect to spend nine hours learning and working outside of class each week. A general framework for how you might allocate your time is as follows:

These hours are estimate. Each of you will spend differing amounts of time in each of these activities. If you find you are spending much more time on one activity, please talk to me so I can provide you with additional assistance.

Work Completion

Academic Standards

You are expected to maintain high standards of academic conduct. Plagiarism and cheating are a violation of the UW Student Conduct Code. For more information about the types of behavior that constitute plagiarism and cheating and the consequences of such behavior, read the UW article on Academic Honesty: Cheating and Plagiarism (http://depts.washington.edu/grading/issue1/honesty.htm).

Additional Writing Assistance

I will provide extensive feedback to students on their written products; however, students who experience difficulty in writing are strongly encouraged to make use of the UW Writing Center (http://depts.washington.edu/wcenter/). The Center is a place where all student writers can access professional help with their writing. It provides an opportunity for students to work one-on-one with an experienced writer and tutor.

Academic Accommodations

If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, contact me as soon as possible to explore alternative arrangements for completing assignments or taking exams for this class. Additional assistance is also available through the Disability Resources for Students Office (DRS). The phone number is (206) 543-8925. Appropriate accommodations are arranged after you've presented the required documentation of your disability to DSS, and you've conferred with the DRS counselor.

Campus Safety

For your safety, the University of Washington encourages you to avoid walking alone, especially after dark. If you don't have a friend with whom to walk, take advantage of the Night Ride shuttle service (www.washington.edu/admin/niteride/). Check the web page for a complete schedule.

In addition, if you are as student with a disability, Dial-a-Ride is a service that provides door-to-door service between the university and the university district (http://www.washington.edu/admin/shuttles//Dial-a-Ride/).

Inclement Weather Policy

In the event of inclement weather please follow these procedures:

 

 

 

 

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