Secondary Mathematics Methods

Math 416

Fall 2000 Syllabus

Instructor:  Mr. Tim Harms                             Office: MacLean 364

Phone:  236-4016 office                       Office hrs: MWF 9-10,11-12, T 10-12, MW 2-3

701-271-8346 home                                       e-mail:  harms@mnstate.edu

Daily Syllabus

Course Description

Course Objectives

Class Expectations

Course Activities

Evaluation

Grading Scale

Required Supplies

Text

Formal Assessment

Resource Folder

Co-Requisites: ED 398- Field Experience in Secondary Education

Course Description:

You will be expected to examine lessons as a student and then delve in the implications of these lessons as a teacher.  This course will require you to incorporate mathematics lessons that meet the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards.  We will focus on two of the most challenging secondary classroom aspects: classroom discipline and assessment of the learning mathematics at the  level.

Course Objectives:

1) Formulate a personal sense of what is mathematics and what it means to teach

     mathematics.

2) Plan lessons that involve thoughtful questioning while balancing styles of

     presentation.

3) Develop resources of good mathematical problems and ways to assess them.

4) Define and become competent in appropriate uses of technology.

5) Practice equity of instruction through applicable modifications of lessons.

Class Expectations:

Regular and active classroom participation.

Assignments read and turned in on due dates listed on syllabus.   

Solve problems in mathematics by formulating problems, use different strategies to verify and interpret results, & communicate results

All papers, lesson plans, tests, quizzes must be typed.

Students will act in an honest and trustworthy manner in class and on all assignments

Course Activities:

Most classes will involve working mathematics problems & discussion of those problems

Development of lesson and unit plans

Adaptations for handicapped students will be discussed and part of lesson plans.

Cooperative learning will be used in the teaching of this course by the instructor as

well as the students during their presentations.

Students will become familiar with the NCTM Standards and MN Math Frameworks.

Evaluation:

Unit plan (outlining the lesson plans in a chapter) - 50 pts

3 Lesson Plans (detailed plans 20 pts each) - 60 pts

3 papers (15 pts each) – 45 pts

2 Presentations & Reflections (25 pts each) - 50 pts

20 Start-up problems @ 2 pts day - 40 pts

10 postings to the class listserv (2 pts/ weekly post) - 20 pts

Midterm algebra basic skills (Pass/Fail) - 50 pts

Resource Folder - 40 pts

Personal Handbook - 80

Final Exam - 50 pts

(Late work will lose 50% of its value each weekday unless prior arrangements have been made)

Grading Scale:

-98 A+; 97-93 A; 92-90 A-

 89-88 B+; 97-83 B; 82-80 B-

79-78 C+; 77-70 C;

69-68 D+; 67-63 D; 62-60 D-

59%- F

Required Supplies:

Three ring binder

Required Text:

Teaching Secondary Mathematics Techniques and Enrichments, Posamentier, A., Stepelman, J., 5^th edition, Merrill Prentice Hall, 1999.

Recommended Texts: (Good references)

Every Minutes Counts, Johnson, D., Dale Seymour Publications, 1986.

Making Minutes Count Even More, Johnson, D., Dale Seymour Publications, 1986.

Motivation Counts: Teaching Techniques that Work, Johnson, D., Dale Seymour Publications, 1994.

The Write Equation: Writing in the Mathematics Classroom, Carter, J., Carter, D., Johnson, D., Dale Seymour Publications, 1994.

On Reserve in the Library

Principals and Standards for School Mathematics, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2000.

(This is also on the web at: http://www.standards.nctm.org)

Minnesota K-12 Mathematics Framework

Formal Assessment

A unit lesson plan covering at topic with daily objectives, assignments and an assessment to complete the unit.

Three lesson plans-each should each include:

            List of materials needed

            Objective that is measurable

            Opening Activity

            Rationale for the lesson

            Examples

            Questions for the students

            Homework Assignment

            Modifications for students with disabilities

            Evaluation

Closing Activity

Student presentations of at least two lessons with at least one of these video taped that will be evaluated in more detail.  You can check out the following equipment from Mr. Harms as you prepare your lessons or are working on problems that will give you a chance to learn how to use these technologies: Graphing Calculators (TI-83 & TI-92 ),

Calculator Based Laboratory (CBL), Calculator Based Ranger (CBR), Algebra

Lab Gear, Fraction Factory & Pattern Blocks. The Geometer’s Sketchpad is loaded

in the Math lab.

Electronic Class Discussion

Weekly postings to the class listserv will be expected.  This will be used to start

 or continue discussion of topics covered in class.  The response will evaluated as

 appropriate or inappropriate for grading purposes. It is important students post in a 

 timely manner.

Midterm test - covering basic math skills test (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, measurement) that students will be expected to score 90% or above for a passing mark, if they do not pass students may retest as necessary.

Resource Folder

 A well organized collection of some of the best problems you feel would use to supplement the text you have when you are student teaching, this collection might also be used when you are out teaching on your own something you need to supplement the texts to help students think.

      Collect at least 10 problems from at least 4 different types sources

     (Mathematics Teacher Journal, other journals, Internet, other texts)

            With each problem identify:

            1) Work each problem yourself and write a few hints for each that will assist

                 those students that need a nudge, but the hint is not to be a dead give away.

            2) What would be learned?

            3) How does it fit with the NCTM Standards/MN Math Frameworks?

            4) How you would present the problem(lecture, cooperative groups, individual

                student directed, or multimedia presentation)

            5) How would you assess each problem?

            6) Reference the source where you found each problem.

Personal Handbook

• Personal involvement activies past, present, & future      
• Classroom discipline policy that includes:
• guidelines for student behavior and
• consequences of misbehavior
• Grading philosophy and policies
• Parental responsibilities and notification on:
• how daily homework assignments can be relayed to parents
• their child's progress on a regular basis
• what involvement is expected from parents 
• their participation in math reform
• Calculator and computer policy:
• are they allowed for use on homework  and exams?
• if so how will students master arithmetic skills?
• Goals in Teaching Mathematics
• Additional topics of your choice…

Syllabus

Final exam - open notebook will be given Dec. 15th at 3 pm

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