Math 403, Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers
General Information
The class meets every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Friday, from 9:55-10:45 in OSH 138.
Links
Handouts
Notes
-
Instructor: Peter Alfeld. Office hours: after
class (except Wednesdays, or by appointment), JWB 236,
ext. 1-6842, e-mail: . e-mail is preferred, but I'm usually in
except Wednesday afternoons. 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.
-
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:
-
Two in class exams, open books and open notes,
counting 20% each. If you miss an exam due to
exceptional circumstances you may be able to
take an {\it oral} make-up exam.
-
A report on your teaching experience at
Washington, 20%.
-
A presentation in class on an assigned topic,
20%.
-
One written final (comprehensive, open books,
open notes, Thursday, 6/11/98, 10:15-12:15),
counting 20%.
-
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 two
projects at Washington Elementary School which is
located at 420 North 200 West, Salt Lake City, Utah
84103, 578-8140. Your activities will be in Room 9 in
the Annex, the room of Carolyn Turkanis. 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.
[03-Apr-1998]