Math 402, Geometry for Elementary School Teachers
General Information
The class meets every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday,
from 9:55-10:45 in NS 205.
Notes
- Instructor: Peter Alfeld. Office hours: after class
(except Wednesdays, or by appointment), JWB 236, ext. 1-6842.
Drop in any time, but give me a
call before you make a special trip. Check out my WWW page.
It has a
teaching section and a web page
for this class too.
- Abbreviations:
- h.o. handed out
- LP Lesson Plan (on platonic solids)
- PR Project Report (on your teaching experience)
- Textbook: The texbook is by Tom Bassarear,
Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers, Houghton Mifflin Company,
1997, ISBN 0-395-66959-6. It comes with a companion volume called
"Explorations". Presumably you purchased these books for Math 401.
We will use them as a resource rather than follow them extremely closely. After
you are through with this sequence keep the books and use them as a
resource when you commence your teaching career!
- Grading: Grading is based on the following items:
- 3 in class exams, open books and open notes,
counting 15% each. If you miss an exam due to exceptional
circumstances you may be able to take an oral make-up exam.
- A detailed lesson plan, counting 15%. You may
write this lesson plan with a partner. I'll collect the lesson plans twice.
The first time I'll just comment on them and give them back to you for
your revision.
- A report of your teaching experience at
Washington, counting 15%.
- One written final (comprehensive, open books, open notes,
Wednesday, 3/18/98, 10:15-12:15), counting 25%.
- Fixed Scale: > 90% A, > 84% A-, > 78% B+,
> 72% B, > 66% B-, > 60% C+, > 54% C, > 48%
C-, > 42% D+, > 36% D, > 30% D-, Else: E
- Washington Elementary:
You'll be doing a project at
Washington Elementary School which is located at 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. Details will be
announced.
Suggestions
- In your teaching and learning, focus on understanding
mathematics rather than memorizing procedures. You understand a
piece of mathematics when you can do all of the following:
- Explain mathematical concepts and facts in terms of simpler
concepts and facts.
- Easily make logical connections between different facts and
concepts.
- Recognize the connection when you encounter something new (inside
or outside of mathematics) that's close to the mathematics you
understand.
- Identify the principles in the given piece of mathematics
that make everything work. (i.e., you can see past the clutter.)
- Read the indicated sections of the textbook before you come to
class.
- After class go over you notes and make sure you understand what we
did. A good way of doing this is to transcribe your notes and write
things down in your own words.
- If you get stuck talk to me. I'll be happy to meet with you and
discuss what we are doing for as long as it takes.
- As a rule of thumb, when taking any math class you should expect to
spend two to three hours out of class for every hour you spend in
class. You'll need that time to go over the material, prepare for the
exams, and do do your assignments.
- You are beyond the stage where you simply follow a teacher's
instructions. It's most important that you think for yourself and
approach a task or problem in your own way. That's the reason why you
may perceive some of the problems and assignments as phrased somewhat
vaguely.
- Read
my on-line study guide.
Return to Peter Alfeld's Home Page.
[31-Dec-1997]