Peter Alfeld, --- Department of Mathematics, --- College of Science --- University of Utah

Math 401, The Number System, for Elementary School Teachers

General Information

The class meets every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 9:55-10:45. Note: On October 1 and 3 we will meet in the Math Department Computing Lab, upper floor of Building 129 (adjacent) to JWB. Starting Monday, October 6, we will meet in OSH 209.

• Schedule: dvi file with notes or html file without notes.

Notes

• Abbreviations: PP: Project Plan VR: Visit Report, LP: Lesson Plan, PR: Project report.

• Instructor: Peter Alfeld. Office hours: after class (except Wednesdays), or by appointment, JWB 236, ext.~1-6567.

• Textbook for Elementary School Teachers", Houghton Mifflin, 1997, ISBN 0-395-66959-6. It has a companion volume "Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers: Explorations" ISBN 0-395-66960. We will not follow these books exactly but use them as a resource (during all three quarters of 401-2-3.)

• Grading: Grading is based on the following items:

  2 reports of trips to Washington Elementary. The first will be of a visit that we'll do as the entire class (tentatively planned for Tuesday, 10/21/97 10:00-12:00). The second will be on your experience teaching a small group of kids at Washington.
  • 2 lesson plans. The first will be the basis of your teaching at Washington. The second will be a more elaborate one covering several lessons on a topic picked from a list to be handed out later.
  • An essay on the role of computing in elementary education. Instructions will be given. I will forward everybody's essay to the whole class, so you can see your class mates perceptions.
  • Two inclass exams.
  • The final exam, Tuesday, December 16, 10:15-12:15.
• The first seven items each count 12\% of your grade, and I'll drop the worst of them (but you must do the project at Washington and write a report on it). The final exam counts for 28\% of your grade. All work but the final should be typed if at all possible. You may do the project together with another student, and I recommend you do. All exams are open books and open notes.

• Fixed Scale: $\ge 90\%$ A, $\ge 84\%$ A-, $\ge 78\%$ B+, $\ge 72\%$ B, $\ge 66\%$ B-, $\ge 60\%$ C+, $\ge 54\%$ C, $\ge 48\%$ C-, $\ge 42\%$ D+, $\ge 36\%$ D, $\ge 30\%$ D-, Else: E

• Projects: You'll be asked to design and teach a lesson to children at Washington Elementary School, 420 North 200 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103, 578-8140. The principal's name is Dr. Nancy McCormick. Whenever you go to Washington, go to the front office and explain to the staff why you are there. Dr. McCormick would like to meet you if she is there. More details will be announced.

• Field Trip: On Tuesday, October 21 we will not meet in class. Instead we will be visiting the room of Carolyn Turkanis of the Open Classroom at Washington Elementary School. Let's meet at 10:00 a.m. at the main entrance of the school (at the Southwest corner of the main building). Please try to be on time, but if you are late check in at the office and ask for directions to Room 9 in the Annex building. We'll spend about two hours at the school. If needed I can provide a ride from the University to Washington and back.