COURSE REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND READINGS

TEXT:  

Guiding Children's Learning of Mathematics, 12th Edition

Steve Tipps- University of South Carolina Upstate

Art Johnson- Boston University

Leonard M. Kennedy - Professor Emeritus, California State University, Sacramento

ISBN-10: 0495810975 ISBN-13: 9780495810971

656 Pages Paperbound

© 2011 Published

LATE WORK POLICY

Late assignments will only be permitted in cases involving extreme hardship (e.g., unplanned change of employment, transfer, severe illness, accident, or death in the immediate family).  It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructorprior to the due date of such circumstances and to provide acceptable documentation.  Late assignments will be handled on a case-by-case basis.  Due to the nature of the program and course you are encouraged to work ahead as possible to avoid missing deadlines.  The course should be completed as scheduled, incomplete (“I”) grades will only be considered as a last resort (See University Catalog Regarding Incomplete (“I”) Grades).   

Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary/Middle School

ED324

SYLLABUS

Central Methodist University

Graduate and Extended Studies

Online Programs

MISSION STATEMENTS:

CMU:    Central Methodist University prepares students to make a difference in the world by emphasizing academic and professional excellence, ethical leadership, and social responsibility.

Creed:  The Central Methodist University community believes in seeking knowledge, truth, and wisdom; valuing freedom, honesty, civility, and diversity; living lives of service and leadership; and taking responsibility for ourselves and the communities in which we live.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Instructor:  Amanda Blackwell

Virtual Office Hours:   

            I am primarily available by appointment. You may contact me through email (preferred) or by cell phone (please be aware that I may not immediately be able to answer the phone). Texting is also another option if you prefer.

Email : ablackwell@centralmethodist.edu  or ablackwell@sherwoodk12.net

        Cell: (660) 525-6500

About the Instructor

Hello! I have a great passion for teaching and lifelong learning. I have found my 2^nd love when I became a math teacher. I am currently teaching full time at Sherwood Middle School in Creighton, MO. I teach 8^th grade math, pre-algebra, and intermediate algebra. However, I have been teaching at various levels. I also teach some courses for State Fair Community College and I attend the University of Central Missouri in specialists courses. I have four crazy boys (plus one on the way), one amazing husband, and several kiddos that consider me their mom, but who am I to argue that honorable position?!

I have a firm belief that we learn with our students and continue to make discoveries together. With that in mind, I hope that you will find what you need in this course to help build lifelong learners out of our future citizens!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

COURSE INTRODUCTION

COURSE

ED324 Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary/Middle School

COURSE DESCRIPTION

ED324 Methods of Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary/Middle School is a 3 hour course.   Presented are methods of teaching mathematical concepts recommended by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics as basic to an elementary and middle school curriculum. These methods are based on research of learning theorists and successful classroom procedures. There will be mini-teaching experiences included.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this course are designed to give prospective elementary and middle grade teachers:

-A background in the theories underlying the teaching of mathematics in elementary and middle grades.

-Opportunities to develop, organize, and teach elementary mathematical concepts with a hands-on approach.

-Examples of various methods used in teaching mathematics in the elementary grades.

-The opportunity to improve their knowledge in the subject area.

-The opportunity to become familiar with some of the resources, literature, and technology available to elementary and middle grade teachers of mathematics.

-A working knowledge of the NCTM Principles and Standards as well as Grade (Course) Level Expectations for mathematics.

MoSTEP Standards: 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.4, 1.2.5, 1.2.6, 1.2.7, 1.2.8,  1.2.9,  1.2.11

COURSE REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND READINGS

TEXT:  

Guiding Children's Learning of Mathematics, 12th Edition

Steve Tipps- University of South Carolina Upstate

Art Johnson- Boston University

Leonard M. Kennedy - Professor Emeritus, California State University, Sacramento

ISBN-10: 0495810975 ISBN-13: 9780495810971

656 Pages Paperbound

© 2011 Published

COURSE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND COMMUNICATION

Generally speaking, instructor announcements or instructions are provided in the announcements section of myCMU.  That said, all students are responsible for having an email address capable of sending and receiving messages.  Students are expected to check their email on a regular basis for course-related communications.  It is the responsibility of the student to let the instructor know his or her email address.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

The final grade will be based on the percentage of total points earned out of total points possible for this semester. The assignments will vary in the number of possible points based upon amount of work involved and complexity of material.  You should be aware that proofreading and revision are extremely important when preparing your homework.

GRADING SCALE           

Grade        Percent                               

A        100-90%    

B        89-80%   

C        79-70%   

D        69-60%   

F        <60%       

GRADING CRITERIA

Grades will be based upon the following:

    Weekly assignments, Discussion Posts, Classroom Observation, Lesson Plans, Projects and Assessments

GRADING CRITERIA EXPECTATIONS

Online Discussion Expectations

Discussion is an integral part of the classroom experience.  Individual participation and contribution to online discussion sessions is encouraged and expected.  Unless otherwise stated, current topics for discussion will be posted on the myCMU discussion area generally sometime during the beginning of the week.  

You will be expected to make three or more contributions to the available discussion threads. You will be expected to post your response to the current topic(s) by Thursday 11:55 PM with a response to two or more students by Sunday 11:55 PM. When posting responses to other students please follow proper netiquette and give responses that are require intellectual thought. A simple “yes” or “no” with no support will not suffice, and will result in 0 point awarded for that portion of the discussion.

Here are qualities of a full-credit student post (adapted from Sloan Consortium http://www.sloan-c.org):

• Substantial – cites PowerPoint, textbook, or video segments
• Concise – focused response.  
• Provocative – student asks a question to facilitate discussion
• Interpretative – expands concepts or connects ideas in new ways
• Timely – posted within set time limits
• Grammatical – free of writing errors

A student should not make all contributions in one or two days.  In order to receive full-credit for discussion, you are encouraged to participate in the discussion at various times throughout the discussion week.

Written Assignment Expectations

Written assignments should be written in 12 point, Times New Roman font using 1” margins by the assigned date.  Assignments should be submitted through myCMU unless otherwise stated.  On the header of each page, please include your name, course number and name, and assignment name.  On the footer of each page, please include a page number.  

Acceptable file formats include Microsoft Word (.doc) or RTF (rich text format).  Files submitted in an improper format can’t be opened, therefore it can’t be graded.  It is the responsibility of the student to submit assignments in the proper file format.  

Course Project Expectations

There will be objective writing, lesson plan writing, teaching, in-class writing assignments, reflections, and out of class assignments.  Lecture will come from teacher given material.  

Written assignments must be presented as directed by the instructor.  All assignments must be turned in on time to receive full credit.  Missed deadlines should be discussed with Professor Sidfrid.

Every teacher needs to spend time becoming familiar with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website:

http://dese.mo.gov

Every teacher should belong to a professional teacher organization.  If you are not a member at this time, I strongly suggest you do so.  As a pre-service teacher, it provides you with liability insurance for a very small cost.  

DUE DATES AND DELIVERABLES

All due dates and deliverable requirements will be posted on the course website and are considered “firm.” Also note that any due dates and times are in central standard time so please adjust accordingly.  Any deviation in content or form should be discussed with the instructor prior to the due date. Late and/or incomplete work will result in a significant grade reduction. The only exceptions related to late work are covered under the Late Work Policy below.  Typically, graded assignments will be returned in 3 days.

LATE WORK POLICY

Late assignments will only be permitted in cases involving extreme hardship (e.g., unplanned change of employment, transfer, severe illness, accident, or death in the immediate family).  It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor prior to the due date of such circumstances and to provide acceptable documentation.  Late assignments will be handled on a case-by-case basis.  Due to the nature of the program and course you are encouraged to work ahead as possible to avoid missing deadlines.  The course should be completed as scheduled, incomplete (“I”) grades will only be considered as a last resort (See University Catalog Regarding Incomplete (“I”) Grades).   

INSTRUCTOR ACADEMIC CONDUCT POLICY

Academic Honesty – Central Methodist University believes that honesty throughout life is a significant foundation of character and personal integrity.  The University’s Policy on Academic Honesty applies to all forms of academic work, including but not limited to quizzes and examinations, essays, and papers, lab reports, oral presentations, surveys, take home tests, etc. Academic honesty requires that each person accept the obligation to be truthful in all academic endeavors. To help members of the community understand the implications of academic honesty, the College provides the following explanation of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is any conduct which has either as its intent or its effect (independent of intent) the false representation of a student’s academic performance. For additional information and university policy, please refer to the CMU Catalogue, posted on the website. Please refer to the specific CMU policy stated in the course catalogue.

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR/COURSE POLICIES:

This class is part of your professional development for becoming a teacher. For that reason, professional behavior is one of the requirements for the class. Professional behavior for teachers includes the qualities, habit of mind, attributes, and skills necessary for being good teachers. These include:

• Dependability: Dependability is demonstrated through consistent attendance and turning in of work. As a teacher, you will be expected to accept the daily responsibilities of teaching. You will be expected to show up for work every day, unless you are ill or there are special circumstances, and to do high quality work that is done in a timely fashion. The same is true for class attendance and homework deadlines. If you have to miss class, you will be expected to complete make-up work by the following class. If you miss more than 2 classes, your grade will be lowered by 10%.   All work must be done by the due dates. Assignments will not be accepted one week from the due date. The university attendance policy statements are in the CGES catalog on page 28, or online at http://www.centralmethodist.edu/cmacademics/catalog.html.  

• Scholarship: Learning to be a teacher requires rigorous application of all of your intellectual faculties, both in and outside of class. While you are in class, scholarly behavior will be expected. Your attention should be directed on the learning activities presented in class. This means that working on assignments for any class, text messaging, or any other behavior that distracts you, or fellow students, is not acceptable. If any such behaviors are observed, you will be warned that it is not professional behavior. If the behaviors are observed a second time, you will marked as absent.  If it is observed a third time, your grade will be dropped 10%.

Scholarship is also expected in work done outside of class.  Students should keep in mind that assignments are due at the beginning of class and printing assignments in the computer lab is not an acceptable excuse for being late to class.  This also means that you must demonstrate that you have thoroughly applied yourself to scholarly pursuits and have maintained a high level of academic honesty.  Students are expected to follow Central Methodist University’s Code of Academic Conduct as outlined in the current CMU and on the CMU website.  Any student caught committing academic misconduct will have the consequence of a zero for the assignment or exam. Furthermore, the student will come under the academic auspices of the Academic Conduct Policy of CMU. It is the student’s responsibility to review and understand the CMU Academic Conduct Policy.

• Pedagogical Skills: Teaching, by its very nature, entails critical thinking, reflection, creativity, dedication, and communication skills. Demonstration of these skills is necessary for people who are training to be teachers. If you do not demonstrate these skills by actively participating in class discussions or activities involving critical thinking, reflection, creativity, or communication skills, you cannot make an A in this class.

• Good Character: Teachers are responsible for the welfare of children and so must demonstrate good character. Character, of course, is hard to assess, but there are certain behaviors that could indicate character issues that would need to be addressed before taking a job as a teacher. As students preparing to be teachers you need to be aware that behaviors considered to be in bad character that are public in nature (such as information posted on public internet sites) can impact your ability to work as a teacher. In addition, any indications that you do not have the disposition to fairly teach students in our diverse society will be taken into account when we make recommendations for employment.

• Students are expected to participate in learning activities in a way that does not disrupt the learning of others. Any behavior that disrupts learning is not considered acceptable. Some of these unacceptable behaviors are: talking to other students in a manner that interferes with instruction; refusing to participate in teacher directed activities; working on assignments for other classes; reading material not assigned. Students who engage in any disruptive behavior will not receive participation points for that day; if the problem persists the students will need to meet with the professor to discuss further measures.

• Students are expected to have weekly internet/email or in-class (Blackboard Collaborate class) conversations with the instructor to monitor class progress.

• Students are expected to participate in weekly online discussion forums as part of their class participation. Ten points may be earned for the initial post(s). A minimum of two replies (per topic) to classmates are worth a total of five points.  Participation points cannot be made up.

COURSE STUDY PLAN

READINGS:

Reading and assignments will be updated weekly in the announcement section of My Courses section in your CMU account. A rough outline will be provided in this document as well.

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS:

Assignments will be uploaded under the appropriate unit in the assignments section for this course in your MyCourses section of your CMU account. In addition to an assignment there will also be discussion board posts due each week. These are subject to change and are to be used as an approximate.

Course Schedule:

*** Discussion Board Posts and Replies are required weekly***

Observation Requirement

There is no observation requirement for summer session.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

APA Reference Guide
You may be asked to write a paper in “APA style”.  If you are not sure what “APA style” means, here are some reference sites

• http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citapa.htm
• http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
• http://apastyle.apa.org/  

Depending on the requirements of your course, you should consider buying a book.

Accessing Library Databases

Central Methodist University provides a number of online databases which are available to you for research and reference purposes.  Since it is likely that you will not be on the Fayette campus when you access this material, you will need to use your myCMU login and password for access.  For more information about how to access these online databases, reference the “Contact Information” section of this document.

Discussion Forum Tips (adapted from (http://community.flexiblelearning.net.au/TeachingTrainingLearners/content/article_4183.htm)

1. Give all postings a clear and relevant title.  Avoid using vague or ambiguous titles such as ‘News’, ‘Hi’ ‘Latest work’ etc.
2. Remember the human.  When you communicate electronically, all you see is a computer screen. You don't have the opportunity to use facial expression, gestures and tone of voice to communicate your meaning (apart from using emoticons); words - lonely written words - are all you've got. When you're holding a conversation online -it's easy to misinterpret your correspondent's meaning. And it's easy to forget that your correspondent is a person with feelings more or less like your own.
3. Respect other people's time.  People seem to have less time than ever before and have a lot of information to absorb. When you send e-mail or post to a discussion group, you're taking up other people’s time (or hoping to). It's your responsibility to ensure that the time they spend reading your posting isn't wasted.
4. Know what you're talking about and make sense.  Make sure your notes are clear and logical and know what you are talking about. Be pleasant and polite. Don't use offensive language, and don't be confrontation for the sake of confrontation.
5. Help keep flame wars under control.  "Flaming" is what people do when they express a strongly held opinion without holding back any emotions. Flames can be lots of fun, both to write and to read. But Netiquette does forbid the perpetuation of flame wars. Series of angry letters, most of them from two or three people directed toward each other that can dominate the tone and destroy the camaraderie of a discussion group. It's unfair to the other members of the group and it also can get boring very quickly to people who aren't involved in them.
6. Be forgiving of other people's mistakes.  When someone makes a mistake (even if you feel strongly about it) think twice before reacting. Having good manners yourself doesn't give you license to correct everyone else.  If you do decide to inform someone of a mistake, point it out politely, and preferable by private email rather than in public.  Give people the benefit of the doubt; assume they just don't know any better.