Research Based Practices in Elementary Math K-6

ELE 642

Course Description:

The goal of this course is to help teachers become mathematically literate in research-based instructional strategies by examining effective curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Teachers will understand the need for developing a mathematics curriculum which is coherent, focused, and articulated. They will gain an understanding of algebra, geometry, measurement, and data analysis and probability as it applies to grades K-6 by developing a conceptual understanding of mathematical concepts, as well as the procedural and computational skills needed to effectively teach elementary mathematics. Assessments will be recognized as a tool to drive instruction, guide programs, influence resource allocations, and make judgments about student learning.

This course will look at the three key principles to make curriculum more logical, reasoned, and coherent: visible connections between purpose and learning, learning experiences, and different ways people learn.

This course has been designed to assist teachers in becoming knowledgeable in the methods of teaching mathematics to elementary school students. Developmentally appropriate research-based practices will be explored through the five aspects of mathematical knowledge: understanding, computing, applying, reasoning, and engaging.

This course will explore the appropriate methodology and instructional strategies needed to teach standards-based mathematics in grades K-6. The standards for teaching and assessment recommended by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics will be analyzed to assist teachers in developing a solid foundation to successfully teach concepts and skills. Differentiation math instruction will be addressed to assist the teacher in meeting the readiness levels and learning styles of students in their diverse classrooms.

This course will examine diagnostic and summative assessments as tools to support the learning of mathematics and furnish useful information to teachers about their students.

Teachers will demonstrate mastery of course objectives by developing math lesson plans for grades K-6 containing appropriate standards, student learning objectives, instructional procedures, required materials, and an assessment to evaluate student learning. Students will be presented with a rubric apprising them of the assignment requirements.

Objectives

Recognize trends in mathematics and understand the current impact research has on mathematics.
Develop a strong understanding of the fundamental ideas of mathematical education
Understand and know relevant standards documents and develop a working knowledge of standards
Identify key principles of curriculum and the role curriculum plays in determining what students should learn and selecting appropriate materials.
Understand the five aspects of mathematical knowledge.
Recognize and put into practice appropriate methodology and instructional strategies to teach mathematics content K-6.
Differentiate math instruction to meet the readiness levels and learning styles of the students.
Understand and develop diagnostic and summative assessments and how to use the information from these assessments.
Identify the guidelines of effective lessons and develop appropriate grade level lesson plans.
Refer to other standards-based math programs that support student achievement and the benefits each of these programs brings to the curriculum.

Time Requirements

This course will be offered over a 15 week period. There are thirteen modules which require the students to participate in reading assignments (text and web), reflective practices, evaluating and developing methodology and instructional practices, analysis of information, research, development of standards-based activities, and a final project consisting of K-6 math standards-based lessons.

Skill and Hardware Requirements

Students may use either a Macintosh computer or a PC with Windows 2000 or higher. Students should possess basic word processing skills and have Internet access as well as an active email account. Students also are expected to have a basic knowledge of how to use a Web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, etc.

Course Materials

The required textbooks for this course are:

Bassarear, T.Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers. 4^th edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008. 1-701.

ISBN: 13: (978-0-618-76836-3)

Checkley, K. The Essentials of Mathematics K-6 Effective Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. 1^st Edition. Virginia: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2006. 1-176. ISBN: 13:987-1-4166-0369-6

Recommended Reading List provided and updated for each term. The course content includes many online readings, website reviews, research reading assignments, forum postings and other written projects.

Course Outline

Module 1: Understanding Mathematics

Objectives:

Students will discuss their beliefs and attitudes about mathematics.
Students will investigate the current trends and research in mathematics.
Students will explain mathematical literacy and the mathematical knowledge children at the elementary level must develop.

Module 2: Curriculum

Objectives:

Students will analyzethe NCTM standards.
Students will apply the key principles of a coherent curriculum.

Students will evaluate curriculum materials.

Students will review standards-based math programs.

Students will implement a standards-based approach to teaching mathematics.

Students will compare and contrast the different types of assessments and the purpose of using assessments in the classroom.
Student will use the guidelines for writing standards-based lesson plans

Module 3: Foundations for Learning Mathematics

Objective:

Students will create classroom activities that integrate problem-solving tools and strategies, patterns, representations, reasoning skills, communication, and making connections in mathematics.

Module 4: Fundamental Concepts

Objective:

Students will create classroom activiites that concentrate on fundamental concepts of sets, algebraic thinking, and numeration.

Module 5: The Four Fundamental Operations of Arithmetic

Objective:

Students will recognize the different operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division and appropriate teaching strategies to use in the classroom.

Module 6: Number Theory

Objective:

Students will demonstrate appropriate strategies for teaching the concept of number theory.

Module 7: Extending the Number System

Objective:

Students will demonstrate appropriate strategies for teaching the extended number system.

Module 8:Proportional Reasoning

Objective:

Students will demonstrate appropriate strategies for teaching proportional reasoning.

Module 9: Uncertainty Data and Chance

Objective:

Students will demonstrate appropriate strategies for teaching data and probability.

Module 10: Geometry as Shape

Objective:

Students will demonstrate appropriate strategies for teaching geometric shapes.

Module 11: Geometry as Transforming Shape

Objective:

Students will demonstrate appropriate strategies for teaching how to transform shapes.

Module 12: Geometry as Measurement

Objective:

Students will demonstrate appropriate strategies for teaching measurement.

Module 13: Grade Appropriate and Standards-Based Lesson Plans

Objective:

Students will develop standards-based unit lesson plans.

Grading Scale:

100-93% A

92-85% B

84-77% C