A New Teaching Methods Course
and Proposed Mathematics Education
Minor for Prospective Middle School
Mathematics Teachers
Carol Fry Bohlin ~ carolb@csufresno.edu
Karen Arth ~ karth@csufresno.edu
Lance Burger ~ lburger@csufresno.edu
California State University, Fresno
CMC-North Conference • 5 December 2009
Meeting the Need for More Middle School
Math Teachers ~ Fresno State
 Mathematicians co-developed and co-taught
mathematicially-rigorous 45-hour workshops for
Mathematics CSET Subtest I and II preparation.
 Math educators and talented secondary math
teachers co-developed and co-taught a new
Middle School Math Methods course this summer.
Schedule & Target Audience
 Academic Year
 CSET Subtest I and II Workshops (Subtest III planned for Spring)
 Target Audience: Multiple Subject candidates plus area teachers (
 Middle School Mathematics Teaching Methods
 Target Audience: Multiple Subject Candidates and Liberal
Studies/Blended Program majors
 In the Future?...New Math Education Minor for Liberal Studies
 Summer
 CSET Subtest I and II Workshops
 Target: Multiple Subject candidates and (especially) teachers
 Free or inexpensive (30 teachers in each section)
 Middle School Mathematics Teaching Methods
 Target: Multiple Subject-credentialed teachers
 Free or inexpensive (60 teachers enrolled this past summer)
Developing the FLM Course…
the Journey…
 As an Engineer/Project Manager
Knowledge
Collaboration
Communication
Models (visualization)
 As a Teacher of Mathematics
Content
Collaboration
Teacher with Mentors and Peers
Students with Teachers Peers
Communication
Mathematical Ideas
Problem Solving Strategies
Visualizing/Experiencing
Manipulatives
Labs
 As the Director of the San Joaquin Valley
Mathematics Project
Working with Grant Participants
STIR (Supporting Teachers to Increase Retention)
 Lesson Study
 Summer Institutes
 Follow-up Sessions
Content for the Teacher and their Students
Time and Opportunities to Collaborate
Time and Opportunities to Communicate
Experiencing Mathematics through
Manipulatives
A New Middle School Math
Methods Course is Created
 Two Mathematics Faculty and the
Director and Co-Director of the SJVMP:
Collaborating together and communicating
ideas about how to create a course which:
Delivered Rich and Challenging Content
Modeled good teaching practices/Pedagogy
Taught/Encouraged Multiple Methods of Solving
Problems
Used a Variety of Manipulatives
Math Education Minor (MME)
at California State University, Fresno
A minor designed primarily for Liberal
Studies students or other majors to acquire
sufficient content and teaching knowledge
for the Foundational-Level Credential in
Single Subject Mathematics (FLM).
Main focus of the MME – Production of
excellent middle school mathematics
teachers.
Proposed Coursework (19 units)
 Math 133. Number Theory for Liberal Studies (3)
 MATH 134. Geometry for Liberal Studies (3)
 MATH 137. Exploring Statistics (3)
 MATH 138. Exploring Algebra (3)
 MATH 139. Advanced Algebra for Middle School
Teachers (3)
 Elective(s)–e.g., Trig., pre-calculus or calculus (at least 4
units); doesn’t include remedial math, Math 10A/B or Math 100
 CI 161. Middle School Methods (3)
taken outside of MEM for CTCC FLM approval.
MSTI Web Site: http://csufresno.edu/teachmathscience