Welcome to Math for Elementary Teachers!

[picture of Niles]

NOTE: This is the syllabus for a PREVIOUS VERSION of the course. See nilesjohnson.net/teaching.html for current courses.

This is the course homepage and syllabus for Math 1125, section 23563, Mathematics for Elementary Teachers I. Here you will find our course calendar, current assignments, basic course information, and links to additional content of interest. This syllabus may need to be updated as the course progresses, and you will always find the current version at http://www.nilesjohnson.net/teaching/SP13/1125.html.

[children writing numbers]

Excellent math teachers have been far too scarce in American education. This course and its sequel, Math 1126, give you the keys to how and why elementary mathematics works. We will develop a thorough understanding of the ideas, how they are related to eachother, and how they are related to more advanced ideas. This is the basic knowledge which underpins truly great teaching!

Homework & Quizzes (+)

Homework 19

Due Monday, 04/22:
Problems 11.1.6, 11.4.2, 11.4.20

Quiz 8

Friday, 04/19

Homework 18

Due Friday, 04/19:
Problems 10.2.4, 10.2.7, 10.5.14

Homework 17

Due Monday, 04/08:
Problems 7.2.15, 7.3.1, 7.3.5

Quiz 7

Friday, 04/05

Homework 16

Due Friday, 04/05:
Problems 7.1.6, 7.2.3, 7.2.5

Homework 15

Due Monday, 04/01:
Problems 6.4.1, 6.4.3, 6.4.9, 6.5.2, 6.5.4, 6.5.10

Quiz 6

Friday, 03/29

Homework 14

Due Friday, 03/29:
Problems 6.1.2, 6.2.5, 6.3.2, 6.3.8, 6.3.16

Homework 13

Due Friday, 03/22:
Problems 5.2.12, 5.3.3, 5.4.9

Homework 12

Due Wednesday, 03/06:
Problems 4.6.13, 5.1.1, 5.1.5

Homework 11

Due Monday, 03/04:
Problems 4.4.6, 4.6.2

Quiz 5

Friday, 03/01

Homework 10

Due Wednesday, 2/27:
Problems 4.3.6, 4.3.8, 4.3.10, 4.3.18

Homework 9

Due Wednesday, 2/27:
Problems 4.1.1, 4.1.7, 4.2.2

Quiz 4

Monday, 02/25

Homework 8

Due Wednesday, 2/20:
Problems 3.3.8, 3.3.13, 3.4.6, 3.4.11

Homework 7

Due Monday, 2/18:
Problems 3.1.1, 3.1.4, 3.2.3, 3.2.10, 3.2.12

Midterm I

Friday, 2/8

Quiz 3

Wednesday, 01/30

Homework 6

Due Monday, 2/4:
Problems 2.4.8, 2.4.17, 2.4.20

Homework 5

Due Monday, 1/28:
Problems 2.3.1, 2.3.7, 2.4.2, 2.4.5

Quiz 2

Friday, 01/25 Cancelled

Homework 4

Due Wednesday, 1/23:
Problems 2.1.3, 2.1.5, 2.1.12, 2.1.15,
Class activity 2F

Quiz 1

Friday, 01/18

Homework 3

Due Friday, 1/18:
Problems 1.3.7, 1.3.8, 1.4.3, 1.4.4

Homework 2

Due Monday, 1/9:
Problems 1.2.5, 1.2.7, 1.2.12

Homework 1

Due Friday, 1/11:
Problems 1.1.1, 1.1.5, 1.1.7

[number elves 1-5]

Basic information (+)

Math 1125 focuses on concepts of number systems and operations. It also includes some basic concepts of geometry. Our class meets in Hopewell 118 following the university Registrar's academic calendar. Our class times are:

  • Monday, Wednesday: 3:55 – 5:15
  • Friday: 3:00 – 4:50.

Instructor

Niles Johnson
Office: Hopewell 189
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10:30 – 12:00

Textbook

Mathematics for Elementary Teachers, 3rd Edition by Sybilla Beckmann. ISBN 0321654277. The activity manual packaged with this book is excellent and we will use it nearly every class.

Exam Schedule

We will have three in-class midterms and a final exam. All students must take the exams at the scheduled times indicated here.

Midterms:

Fridays; February 8, March 8, April 12 in class

Final:

Wednesday, April 24, 3:00 – 4:45

Attendance

Active participation in class is an essential part of this course, and so attendance every day is required. Please let Niles know as soon as possible if an illness or other commitment will prevent you from attending. Homework is due at the beginning of each class, and late homework cannot be accepted.

Math Learning Center

The Math Learning Center (Warner 214) is a great resource, and I encourage you make use of it. The staff there has experience with our course and would love to help you!

Calculators and Mathematical Software

There are a variety of modern tools which support mathematics learning and application. We'll use several of them in this course, but no technology will be used on the quizzes or exams. In particular, calculators and cell phones will not be permitted. The only materials you'll need are writing instruments and your mind.

Assessment (+)

Your final grade will be based on written homework, written and oral in-class participation, quizzes, midterms, and a final exam. The precise breakdown is as follows:

  • In-class participation: 12%
  • Homework: 5%
  • Quizzes: 13%
  • Midterm exams: 15% each, for a total of 45%
  • Final exam: 25%

Participation

Thoughout this semester we will be focused on the how and why of elementary mathematics. This means that you will be responsible both for knowing the content and for knowing how to explain the content. We will practice this in a variety of ways, and much of this practice will take place in class. Teaching mathematics requires listening carefully to students, assessing their ideas, and responding in ways that make sense. Our class participation is designed to practice these essential skills. You will have opportunities on a daily basis to listen to your fellow classmates explain ideas and ask questions. You will be asked to respond with your ideas and with additional questions. Together we will see how and why mathematics works! Participating in this course includes all of the following:

  • Show interest in mathematical ideas.
  • Show interest in different ways of approaching mathematical ideas.
  • Listen carefully to different ways of solving a problem.
  • Carefully evaluate a proposed method of solution.
  • State whether you agree or (respectfully) disagree with a statement.
  • Show interest in learning with and from others.

Homework and Quizzes

Homework and Quizzes will be scored using the rubric below. Scores are based both on mathematical correctness and quality of explanations. Homework should be typed and presented as you would an essay. If necessary, you may draw diagrams by hand on separate pages. Quizzes will be hand-written during the first 10 or 15 minutes of class.

The homework is intended to give you time to develop your explanations and understanding of the content. You are encouraged to work with your classmates on this, but you must write your own explanations. Homework is designed to help you learn, and not as an assessment tool. Therefore grades for homework will be recorded on a complete/incomplete basis (scores of 4 and higher are complete). The numerical scores are given only for your information.

The weekly quizzes are opportunities to evaluate your current grasp of the material. They will be very short and based on previous homework problems or class activities. Quiz grades will be recored as scored.

Grading Rubric

The descriptions on the rubric below are meant as a guide to help answer the question What constitutes a good explanation of mathematics? This is a subtle and challenging question—one that is worthy of considerable time and energy. As you write your explanations, consider the distinction between Procedure and Conceptual Meaning. A complete explanation addresses both of these, but the conceptual meaning is essential. Explanations that address procedure only are a disservice to students and do not support their future learning. They are also much less interesting!

Quizzes and exams will follow this scale; Niles will use these for comments on homework too, although homework grades are recorded on a complete/incomplete basis. Homework will be considered complete if the average score is 3 or higher.

10+
Exemplary
Excellent work that exceeds the assignment guidelines.
10
Very good
Correct procedure with an explanation that effectively addresses relevant definitions and concepts.
9
Good
Correct procedure with nearly complete explanation.
8
Good
Correct procedure with an emerging but incomplete explanation.
7
Basic
Minor procedural errors with emerging explanation that shows understanding.
6
Basic
Minor procedural errors with explanation that mentions core definitions or conceptual meaning relevant to the question.
5
Emerging
Work that has merit but also has significant shortcomings in the procedure and/or explanation.
3
Effort
Work that shows relevant effort but is seriously flawed.
0
No credit.
No work submitted, or no relevant effort shown.
[number elves 6-0]

Websites on math standards

Websites of elementary school texts from high performing countries

Other websites of interest

  • Project INTERMATH, which focuses on building teachers' mathematical content knowledge through mathematical investigations that are supported by technology.
  • Problems and tasks that Sybilla Beckmann wrote for her 6th graders during the 2004/2005 school year organized according to the grade 6 Georgia Performance Standards.
  • Report by the National Council on Teacher Quality on mathematics in the U.S.: No Common Denominator. The report includes a great appendix on content that mathematics teachers must know, and ranks Beckmann’s textbook highest overall among elementary mathematics content textbooks.

GEC Information

This Mathematics course can be used, depending on your degree program, to satisfy the Quantitative and Logical Skills category of the General Education Requirement (GEC). The goals and learning objectives for this category are:

Goals:

Courses in quantitative and logical skills develop logical reasoning, including the ability to identify valid arguments, use mathematical models and draw conclusions based on quantitative data.

Learning objectives:

Students comprehend mathematical concepts and methods adequate to construct valid arguments and understand inductive and deductive reasoning, scientific inference and general problem solving.

Disability Statement

Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The Office for Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone (614) 292-3307 and VRS (614) 429-1334; webpage http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/

Academic Misconduct Statement

It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term "academic misconduct" includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee. For additional information, see the Code of Student Conduct:
http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/resource_csc.asp

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