Education 334.05
Secondary Math Methods
Martha Voyles
Steiner 304
Fall 2002

Secondary Math Methods Syllabus

Texts: 

Farrell and Farmer, Secondary Mathematics Instruction:  An Integrated Approach

 

Merseth, Cases in Secondary Mathematics Classrooms

 

NCTM, Principles and Standards for School Mathematics

 

Johnson, David, Every Minute Counts

Schedule

Tue., Aug. 27

Management, history, objectives (C3)

       
 

READ:

Farrell and Farmer - chapters 5 and 9.  You can skim the section on the Psychomotor Domain.

 

ASSIGN:

1.

Review Exercises A and B at the end of chapter 5 and come to class with any questions. 

   

2. 

Be prepared to put a brief outline of the history of math education on the board, labeled by decade.  3.  Begin a list of management techniques and procedures you have observed in your student teaching classroom.

 

CLASS:

Discuss history.  Begin consideration of classroom management and practice writing objectives.

       

Thurs., Aug. 29

Philosophy and National Standards (C3)

       
 

READ:

Psychology of Learning Mathematics; NCTM Standards pp. 4 (section on need) and pp. 334-364.

 

ASSIGN:

Write a one-page draft of your philosophy for teaching mathematics.

       

Fri., Aug. 30

Assessment (G1-5)

       
 

READ:

Math: NCTM Standards, pp. 22-24..  Professional Standard pp. 75-119, High School vignettes, Performance Assessment:  Everyone Talks About It, But What Is It? And scan Performance Tasks and Rubrics for Middle School Mathematics for examples. 

 

ASSIGN:

Write two objectives at each level using material for the unit you will write for this course.

 

CLASS:

Review assessment standards on student teacher rating form.  These are from Wiggins.

       

Tues., Sept. 3

Questioning/Discourse (D)

 

READ:

Jacobsen, Chapter 6; Skim Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics, pp. 35-61.  Cases:  Lost in Translation, On and On It Goes

 

ASSIGN:

Write the assessment portion of your unit plan.

 

CLASS:

Analyze video of classroom discussion

       

Thurs., Sept. 5

Strategies for Instruction (D)

       
 

READ:

Farrell and Farmer:  text—chap. 1, NCTM Standards pp. 290-319.  Johnson and Johnson, Circles of Learning, chap. 1.  Cases:  Caught in Between, It’s Time for a Tail  

 

     

Fri., Sept. 6

Strategies for Instruction (D)

       
 

READ:

Cases:  Marble Line, How High Can You Go?

 

ASSIGN:

Write a two-page analysis of relevant characteristics of the students you are planning your unit for.

       

Tue., Sept. 10

 Classroom Management

       
 

READ:

Every Minute Counts – pp.1-30.

 

ASSIGN:

Goals, objectives and assessment for unit.  Rewrite of philosophy. 

 

CLASS:

Algebra Tiles

 

     

Thur., Sept. 12

Management, Mathematical Models using Manipulatives

       
 

READ:

Every Minute Counts pp.30-66. “A Complete Model for Operations on Integers”

 

ASSIGN:

Summarize an article from Mathematics Teacher on the topic of your unit.

       

Fri., Sept. 13

No class.

       
 

ASSIGN:

First three lessons of unit plan.

 

     

Tues., Sept. 17

Curricula (QL, Core Plus, UCSMP, Integrated, middle school reform curricula)

     
 

READ:

Cases:  “Ships in a Fog” and “Signs Sweet Signs”

       
 

ASSIGN:

Review the assigned curricula according to the criteria on the handout.  Try to compare similar units in each curriculum.

       
 

CLASS:

Venn diagrams as an approach to geometry and other definitions.

       

Thur., Sept. 19

Calculators and Computer Software

     
 

READ:

NCTM position on calculators, computers and others.  Article on calculator use. NCTM Dialogues issue on calculator use.  Cases: “Seeing Is Believing”, “Cylinder Exploration”, “Chances Are”

 

CLASS:

Hands-on Equations: manipulatives to model algebraic equations and their solutions.

       

Fri., Sept. 20

Individual Differences/Equity

       
 

READ:

Fennema, “Effective Instruction for Girls and Boys”, Gender Equity, Right From the Start and Iowa MCNS Infusion, p.31-33.

 

ASSIGN:

Review resource texts in curriculum library.  Select several ideas from the hanging files.  Locate and review several websites that have resources for math teachers.

       

Tues., Sept. 24

READ:

Ball, Magical Hopes.  NCTM Math Standards pp. 320-324 (Geometry and Measurement) Cases:  “Algebra Is Cool”, “A picture Is Worth Thousand Words”, “The Picture Unfolds”

       

Thur., Sept. 26

     
 

READ: 

None.

 

ASSIGN

Continue work on unit lesson plans.

 

CLASS

Finish discussion of cases or assignments not yet discussed.

   

Continue review of resources.

       

Fri., Sept. 27

ASSIGN:

Final unit plan due.  No class.  Attend UNI math conference with building teachers.  You will need to leave at about 7:30 a.m.


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