A Mathematics Course
for Prospective Teachers
Whose Background is
Limited to Precalculus
Gary Shannon, Professor, Mathematics
shannong@csus.edu
Deidre B. Sessoms, Director, Teacher Preparation
sessoms@csus.edu
California State University, Sacramento
CMC-North, Asilomar, December 5, 2009
1
The Issue

Math credential program applicants without
subject matter competency met




Career changers
Many culturally/linguistically diverse
Pink-slipped teachers
Multiple subject credentialed/liberal studies
students
2
Grant Funding: MSTI & Noyce

Faculty time




Peer Mentor salary


Design appropriate courses
Teach courses through continuing education
Assist in university course approval process
Future math teacher student to assist with course
instruction
Continuing Education course fee waiver


Application approval process
$500 of total $675 course fee
3
Fee Waiver Application Process
 Application Form


Track applicants
Determine effectiveness
 Applicant Recruitment Survey

Combine with Noyce survey data to determine
effective recruitment strategies
4
Course Information
 Pre-Requisites



Must contact course instructor for approval
Good understanding of precalculus
Willingness to engage material and work hard
 Course Content


Mathematical content based on CTC subject
matter requirements
Focus not only on what but also on why
5
Course Structure
 Handouts (some content, but mostly blank)
 Lots of questions and discussion
 Informal groups
 Regular and challenging homework
 Peer Mentor available to assist with instruction
both in and out of class
 Course scheduled to coincide with July CSET test
offering
 Enrollment: 35 students over 2 summers; 29
participated fully & received credit for the course
6
CSET Subtest I&II Results
None
passed
Passed 1
subtest
9 students
X
7 students
X
Notes
Few took both
subtests at
once
3 have only taken
1 subtest
Took 11/09; no
scores yet
3 students
3 students
Passed 2
subtests
X
Took both
subtests at once
2 students
Subject Matter
Authorization
1 student
Left Teaching
7
4 students
Did not respond
How do we take the next step in sharing best
practices and project data?
For more information, contact Dr. Gary Shannon at shannong@csus.edu or
Dr. Deidre Sessoms at sessoms@csus.edu