Official Course Title
MATH 375: Early Field Experience for Future Teachers
Instructors
Class Meetings
Tuesdays 3:35-6:15, Thornton Hall 211.
Prerequisites
Math 301 or consent of instructor and interest in teaching mathematics in K-12 schools as a career. Math majors interested in teaching are recommended to take this course in their sophomore or junior year.
Bulletin Description
This 3-unit course provides the opportunity for students to relate the mathematics they are learning to the teaching and learning of mathematics at the middle and high school levels and at the same time fulfill the 45-hour field experience requirement for prospective teachers.
Course Objectives
Students will:
- Serve as an assistant and observer in a K-12 math class,
- Learn teaching, facilitating, and helping skills,
- Expand their understanding of how students learn and respond to schooling,
- Become familiar with some research on student learning,
- Gain understanding of the mathematics knowledge needed for teaching,
- See what life as a high school teacher is like, and
- Get 45 hrs of classrooms experience, fulfilling a requirement of state credential programs.
Evaluation of Students
Students will demonstrate their mastery of the first five objectives on frequent graded homework assignments as well as active participation in class discussions and group presentations. Assignments should be turned in via email. Students will also carry out their fieldwork reliably, positively and constructively
Course Outline
The order in which we work on the following topics may vary.
- Instrumental and Conceptual Knowledge
- Problem solving and its central role in teaching and learning mathematics
- Inquiry based learning and construction of understanding
- Teaching methods that support students’ building understanding
- Electronic learning tools
- Structuring mathematics lessons for secondary students
- Connections between topics at the 7-12 level and sorting out the big mathematical ideas
- Cultural assumptions or preferences and community building in the classroom
- Assessing what students understand
- High stakes testing and its effects on students, teachers, curriculum
- The realities of teaching as a career
Textbooks and Software
None. Most readings will be available online. Access to a graphing calculator helpful but not necessary.
Visits
These are discussed in more detail at
375 Visit Info.